Blog
We’re WASC Accredited: What It Means and Why It Matters!
In February of this year, Almond Acres Charter Academy received a six-year accreditation renewal by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This level of accreditation is the highest provided by the association and is awarded to schools that meet its...
Begin with the End in Mind
At the start of the school year we shared, taught, encouraged, and expected our children to learn and live the first five habits of citizenship–to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, and caring. These citizenship traits involve key principles that grow strong citizens. We began with these because we were beginning with the end in mind. This week’s habit from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is Begin with the End in Mind. Starting with direction toward where we want to end up is
Synergy: The Gift of Interdependence
Many hands make light work, especially when you are in your 50’s. Words such as community, harmony, teamwork, family, and synergy express the outcomes of people working and living together cooperatively. It is nice to know that we live with others who are willing and able to help us be a better version of ourselves. Thinking interdependently is one of the habits that uses many of the habits we have already practiced: flexibility, listening with understanding, thinking win-win, sacrifice, communicating with clarity, and so on. Thinking interdependently recognizes that our lives are
Positivity and Perseverance: Sixth-Graders Raise Funds to Attend a Week-Long Science Camp in Yosemite
Have you ever dreamed of visiting a national park with your school friends? This past December, our sixth-grade students made that dream a reality. 36 middle school students from Almond Acres Charter Academy spent a week exploring Yosemite National Park at their...
Our Kite Philosophy
Our school mascot is definitely one-of-a-kind. Despite our close connection to coastal winds, it wasn’t windy weather that made us choose the kite as our school mascot. The kite has much stronger conceptual roots in our school’s mission. Let’s dive a little deeper...
Postive Citizenship: An Alternative to Bullying
Bullying. When we think about the word, we all have a picture that immediately comes to mind. Maybe it’s a picture of a larger, older child tripping a younger, smaller child, dumping out the contents of their backpack, or pushing them down into the mud. For others, we...