1. What does "leveled learning" mean?
Spectrum students are assessed at the end of each school year, or when they join Spectrum Academy, and then placed into math and language arts classes that teach at the student's appropriate learning level. For example, if your student is in third grade, but they test in to 4th grade language, and 2nd grade math, that is where your student is placed. All of the classes are taught at the same time in each class so that our students can rotate to their appropriate leveled classes at the same time. All core subjects (science, social studies, PE, computers) are taught in your student's homeroom class. Social skills is also taught in homeroom.
An example schedule of the above student could look like this:
3rd grade homeroom 9:00 - 9:10 - Mrs. Manning
4th grade language 9:15 - 11:00 - Ms. Jandy
Social Scene Investigations 11:00 - 11:30 - Mrs. Manning
Lunch 11:30 - 12:00 (with homeroom class)
2nd grade math 12:00 - 1:10- Mrs. Paquin
4th grade language block 2 - 1:15 - 2:15 - Ms. Jandy
3rd grade Core 2:20 - 3:10 - Mrs. Manning (with homeroom class)
2. How can my child get in to Spectrum Academy?
The only way to get in to Spectrum Academy Elementary is to go through the school's lottery. You can find information on www.spectrumcharter.org about the next lottery. There is good news, however. We will be expanding the elementary next year and there will be more places available than usual because of the expansion.
3. How much does it cost for my child to attend Spectrum Academy?
Spectrum Academy is a free public charter school.
4. How can I be involved with the amazing things happening at Spectrum Academy?
Funny you should ask! We would love to have you join us in making a difference in the lives of children who have autism spectrum disorders. Our Parent Action Committee (PAC) is a great place to start. The PAC has everything from 30 minute projects that we need help with, to longer and more involved (but oh, so rewarding) opportunities. You can contact jsmith@spectrumcharter.org for information on the PAC.
We love drop-in volunteers as well! We always have things that we can use extra help with!
IMPORTANT INFO: To be able to volunteer in the school or to go on field trips as a chaperone or driver, you will need to have a background check completed at BCI (Background Criminal Investigations) in West Valley. The background check takes about 10 - 15 minutes and costs $15. After your background check is complete, they will give you a piece of paper which is stamped with their embossed stamp and gives information on your background check. Please bring that paper to the school.
We require 40 hours per year of volunteer work per child at Spectrum Academy; volunteers make a difference! :)
Volunteer FAQ:
Volunteer
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Why
do
I
need
to
volunteer
at
Spectrum?
A:
Spectrum
Academy
has
a
vision
of
parents,
such
as
you,
wanting
teachers
with
expertise
in
the
Special
Education
field
and
that
want
an
environment
where
their
child
could
feel
included
and
accepted
on
all
levels.
In
addition
to
the
educational
structure,
we
also
provide
services
to
address
our
students’
social,
behavioral
and
sensory
needs.
Unfortunately,
these
necessary
services
and
programs
cost
more
than
the
Utah
State
Office
of
Education
allocates
per
student.
This
is
where
you
come
in
— to
help
shrink
that
gap.
Q:
How
many
volunteer
hours
do
I
need
to
complete?
A:
Each
family
is
required
to
complete
40
hours
for
their
first
child
attending
Spectrum,
and
10
additional
hours
for
each
additional
student.
Example:
If
you
have
four
students
attending
Spectrum
you
would
need
to
complete
70
hours.
Q:
If
I
finish
all
the
required
hours
but
still
volunteer
for
the
school,
should
I
still
log
in?
A:
Yes.
Some
of
the
grants
we
apply
for
ask
for
our
total
amount
of
volunteer
hours.
We
want
to
tell
them
as
many
volunteer
hours
as
we
can.
Q:
Do
I
have
to
do
all
my
volunteer
hours
at
the
school?
A:
No.
We
have
opportunities
to
help
us
outside
of
school.
This
may
include
take-home
projects
or
events.
Q:
Do
I
personally
have
to
complete
all
my
family’s
volunteer
hours?
A:
No.
Parents,
siblings,
extended
family,
and/or
friends
are
welcome
to
help
your
family
receive
volunteer
hours.
Be
creative!
Q:
Do
I
need
to
have
a
background
check
for
any
volunteer
work
that
I
do?
A:
No.
You
only
need
to
get
a
background
check
completed
if
you
want
to
volunteer
with
students
— this
includes
working
in
the
classroom,
field
trips,
tutoring,
or
anything
else
at
the
school.
Q:
Where
do
I
get
my
background
check
completed?
A:
Bureau
of
Criminal
Identification Open
Monday
-
Friday
from
8
am
– 5
pm
3888
W
5400
S Closed
weekends
and
state
holidays
Salt
Lake
City
UT
84118
Application
fee
is
$15
(801)
965-4445 You
must
bring
government
issued
photo
ID
Q:
Do
I
have
to
volunteer
in
my
child’s
class?
A:
No.
We
understand
that
you
being
in
the
classroom
with
your
child
may
cause
disruption
to
the
rest
of
the
class.
We
have
many
other
ways
for
you
to
volunteer.
We
have
several
different
events,
fundraisers,
and
miscellaneous
tasks
around
the
school
we
always
need
help
with.
Q:
Does
money
I
spend
at
fundraising
events
count
toward
my
volunteer
hours?
A:
No.
Items
you
purchase
at
a
fundraising
event
are
not
used
at
the
school.
A
donation
is
given
to
the
school
with
no
expectation
of
recognition.
If
you
purchase
a
brick,
raffle
tickets,
or
a
basket
at
the
gala
you
are
not
giving
something
to
the
school
without
that
expectation
(there
is
some
sort
of
personal
gain).
You
are
receiving
a
product
that
Spectrum
or
a
Spectrum
family
has
purchased
to
help
raise
money
for
the
school.
Other
things
that
do
not
count
toward
volunteer
hours
are
the
boutique
booth
fees
or
admission
to
fundraising
events.
Q:
Do
donations
I
make
to
the
school
count
toward
my
volunteer
hours?
A:
Yes.
For
every
$10
of
either
cash
or
items
you
donate
to
the
school,
you
will
receive
1
hour.
If
you
bring
in
items
to
donate,
you
must
turn
in
the
receipt.
Anything
you
donate
is
tax
deductible.
Please
ask
someone
in
the
front
office
for
a
tax
deductible
receipt
if
you
are
interested.
Q:
I
brought
in
my
money/receipts
to
put
toward
my
volunteer
hours.
Now
what?
A:
You
will
need
to
fill
out
an
“Alternate
Volunteer
Hours
Form.”
Attach
a
copy
of
your
receipt
to
the
filled
out
form
and
turn
it
into
the
envelope
that
says
“Alternate
Volunteer
Hours
Forms.”
You
MUST
turn
in
a
copy
of
the
receipt
to
receive
credit.
Q:
How
do
I
get
credit
for
my
volunteer
hours?
A:
You
must
log-in
on
the
volunteer
computer
to
receive
hours
you
do
at
the
school.
You
click
“Volunteer”
and
then
find
your
name
on
the
list.
You
may
add
it
if
it
is
not
there
already.
Then
you
click
either
“an
activity”
or
“a
classroom.”
Find
the
name
of
the
activity
you
are
volunteering
for
or
the
name
of
the
teacher
who’s
class
you
are
volunteering
in.
Then
click
“Sign
Me
In.”
You
need
to
fill
out
an
Alternate
Volunteer
Hours
Form
for
hours
completed
at
home.
Q:
Who
do
I
contact
in
regards
to
volunteering?
A:
Wendy
Hansard
is
the
Volunteer
Coordinator.
She
keeps
track
of
your
volunteer
hours
as
well.
If
you
have
any
questions,
contact
her
by
email
whansard@spectrumcharter.org
or
by
phone
801-936-0318.
She
will
get
you
in
contact
with
the
PTO
president.
Q:
What
if
there
is
a
discrepancy
with
my
volunteer
hours?
A:
Unfortunately,
this
sometimes
happens.
Please
keep
track
of
your
volunteer
hours
just
in
case
this
happens.
If
you
think
you
hours
have
been
accounted
for
incorrectly,
please
tell
Wendy.
She
will
work
with
you
to
get
it
resolved.
Q:
What
do
I
need
to
do
to
drive
my
child’s
class
on
a
field
trip?
A:
We
need
to
have
your
background
check
and
a
copy
of
your
driver’s
license
and
car
insurance
turned
in
to
the
front
office
before
the
field
trip
leaves.
Q:
If
I
get
a
company
to
donate
time
or
money
at
Spectrum
Academy,
will
that
count
toward
my
volunteer
hours?
A:
Yes!
Be
sure
to
let
Wendy
know
if
this
is
the
case.
The
value
(whether
monetary
or
time)
will
be
applied
towards
your
hours.
Example:
If
a
company
donates
$1000
to
Spectrum,
you
will
receive
100
hours.
Q:
If
I
want
to
come
in
on
a
weekly
basis,
what
sorts
of
things
can
I
do?
A:
We
are
always
looking
for
people
who
want
to
come
in
weekly!
We
need
people
to
come
in
and
tutor
one-on-one
with
students
who
are
struggling.
You
could
share
a
talent
(like
drama
or
music)
and
come
in
weekly
to
teach
a
class
(or
two).
We
also
have
odd
jobs
in
the
library
and
office.
Q:
What
sorts
of
things
can
I
do
if
I
work
full-time
and/or
cannot
come
to
the
school
during
the
day?
A:
We
have
some
projects
that
can
be
done
at
home.
This
includes
things
like
counting
box
tops,
Campbell
soup
labels,
etc.
Sometimes
teachers
have
lamination
or
other
projects
that
can
be
completed
at
home
as
well.
We
also
have
events
during
the
evening
or
on
weekends
that
we
need
volunteers
to
help
us
with.
Remember,
we
can
always
use
items
and
money
donated,
too.
Q:
What
happens
if
I
do
not
complete
all
my
volunteer
hours
during
the
school
year?
A:
There
are
opportunities
for
hours
to
be
completed
during
the
summer.
If
you
do
not
complete
your
volunteer
hours,
you
have
the
opportunity
to
pay
for
them.
Ultimately,
your
child
may
lose
their
placement
at
Spectrum
if
your
hours
are
not
completed.
Q:
What
if
I
forget
to
sign
in
or
out
while
I’m
volunteering?
A:
If
you
come
back
to
volunteer
within
eight
days,
the
computer
will
ask
you
when
you
left.
If
not,
the
computer
will
automatically
sign
you
out
after
eight
days.
The
computer
is
not
always
accurate
so
try
to
remember
so
you
get
the
credit
for
the
whole
time
you
were
volunteering.
Q:
Can
I
use
Spectrum’s
after-school
care
free
of
charge
while
I’m
volunteering?
A:
No.
After-school
care
costs
$4
an
hour.
This
is
to
pay
the
employees
working
and
for
any
snacks
or
art
projects
you
child
uses
while
attending.
This
is
not
negotiable.
Q:
Will
observing
my
child’s
behavior
in
the
classroom
count
towards
my
volunteer
hours?
A:
No.
If
you
are
in
the
classroom,
you
must
be
helping
the
teacher
for
your
volunteer
hours
to
count.
Sitting
with
your
child
will
not
count.
Q:
What
sorts
of
items
do
you
need
frequently
donated?
A:
We
ALWAYS
need
Kleenex,
latex-free
band
aids,
copy
paper,
prizes
for
the
Caughtcha’
Store,
gel-filled
ice
packs
(bend-able
ones),
Lysol
spray,
Clorox
wipes,
and
non-perishable
items
for
students
who
forget
to
bring
a
lunch
(example:
Easy
Mac,
granola
bars,
etc).
Also
see
your
child’s
teacher
for
other
supplies
needed.
Q:
How
do
I
check
to
see
how
many
volunteer
hours
I’ve
completed?
A:
If
you
have
an
email
address,
you
will
receive
monthly
emails
with
your
total
hours.
Otherwise,
you
can
speak
with
Wendy
to
get
your
total.
Q:
Can
I
bring
my
other
children
to
Spectrum
while
I
volunteer?
A:
No.
If
you
are
volunteering
at
Spectrum,
we
need
your
undivided
attention.
Sometimes
small
children
will
wander
away
while
you
are
working
and
this
is
a
liability
for
Spectrum.
Q:
If
my
child
is
attending
high
school,
do
I
have
to
do
my
entire
volunteer
hours
at
the
high
school
(or
vice
versa)?
A:
No.
Please
contact
Wendy
to
make
arrangements
before
you
want
to
volunteer.
Other miscellaneous things that
do not count towards volunteer hours:
- Carpool
- Helping your child with homework
- Attending student performances
No comments:
Post a Comment