Enrich * Empower * Educate

Armenta Learning Academy Achieving Excellence Through Education

Back to School Newsletter Fall 2015

Volume 2, Issue 2

Armenta Learning Academy

27665 Forbes Road, Suite #201

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

(949) 367-WISE (9473) phone

(949)433-0898 cell

www.armentalearningacademy.com

Welcome Back To Armenta School!

ARMENTA AT ITS BEST

Every child has an opportunity to succeed with a curriculum custom-ized 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 poten-tial 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 excel-lence! Armenta offers instructional programs for all levels; from special needs to gifted and talented students!

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 Year

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

♦Multisensory Approaches to Learning In-cluding 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., Develop-ment Delay Asperger's, Autism and more and we offer family support and classes

♦Small Group or 1:1 Tutoring

♦At Home/Offsite Tutoring

♦Correspondence with Student’s Teachers & Parents

♦Comfortable Environment Where Kids Can Learn & Take Risks

♦Daily Communication with Parents

♦Classes for Credit to Get Ahead or Catch Up

♦Year-Round Prep for Students for a Success-ful 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

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Calendar of Events ........ 2

Back to School Safety .... 3

Staff Biographies .......... 4

Kinder Readiness .......... 5

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

Social Skills Classes ....... 7

Armenta Pet Academy .. 8

ARMENTA HIGHLIGHTS

• Armenta Events

• Success Stories

• Summer Fun Photos

• Armenta Flashback

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

2

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 put-

ting 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 togeth-

er 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!

Keeping kids safe with the new school year is a number one priority.

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY

AFTER SCHOOL TIPS

3

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

♦ 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.

♦ Teach your kids to obey all traffic signals, signs, and traffic officers. Remind

them to take extra precaution when the weather is foggy.

♦ 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.

♦ 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.

♦ Set up rules for locking doors and windows, answering the door or tele-

phone.

♦ 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.

♦ 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.

MEET OUR STAFF

4

JULIE M. ARMENTA, M.A. EDUCATIONAL & FAMILY SPECIALIST

I am the Founder, Educational and Fami-

ly Specialist at Armenta Learning Acade-

my. Since the age of 5, I have had the

dream of having my own school and im-

pacting 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 certi-

fied counselor for both students and fami-

lies. 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 commu-

nity to instill values, techniques, and ap-

proaches for more success with their chil-

dren 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 in-

volved with several organizations: Council

for Exceptional Children, Council for

Children with Behavioral Disorders,

Council for Special Education Adminis-

trators, the Council of Culturally and Lin-

guistically 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, consulta-

tions, educational and family workshops

and support. My passion is to educate,

motivate, inspire, and empower all fami-

lies 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) 433-

0898

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

BRUCE SMITH, LEAD TEACHER

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 spe-

cialties are Math and History. Mr. Smith

engages his students’ interest in every

subject with his personable and humor-

ous 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 life-

impacting 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 stu-

dents 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 encourage-

ment and support of all our students at

ALA. While Mr. Smith is our Lead Teach-

er 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 Parent-

ing 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 en-

couraging physical trainer for the Ar-

menta Olympics & Games.

SUCCESS STORIES

“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-

ing and tests. Thank for

your history lessons and

keeping me up to date

with the news.”

~Jack

Armenta Learning Academy is a great

school for parents who want a non-

traditional 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. Ar-

menta Learning Academy is a safe and

stimulating environment, great for

social and physical development nec-

essary for children, as well as the cog-

nitive and emotional development that

is expected by kindergarten.

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, Educa-

tional 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 start-

ing kindergarten:

∗ Listen to stories without inter-rupting

∗ Recognize rhyming sounds

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

∗ Understand actions have both causes and effects

∗ Show understanding of general times of day

∗ Cut with scissors

∗ Trace basic shapes

∗ Begin to share with others

∗ Start to follow rules

∗ Be able to recognize authority

∗ Manage bathroom needs

∗ Button shirts, pants, coats, and zip up zippers

∗ Begin to control oneself

∗ Separate from parents without being upset

∗ Speak understandably

∗ Talk in complete sentences of five to six words

∗ Look at pictures and then tell sto-ries

∗ Identify rhyming words

∗ Identify the beginning sound of some words

∗ Identify some alphabet letters

∗ Recognize some common sight words like “stop”

∗ Sort similar objects by color, size, and shape

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

∗ Count to ten

∗ Bounce a ball

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.

KINDER READINESS

5

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!

STANDOUT STUDENTS

6

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.

MOST IMPROVED STUDENT

Zayne Patel

Zayne is a gifted and bril-

liant 5 year old kinder-

gartner who loves to learn

and reads above is grade

level. He has improved

immensely on his writing

and mathematics.

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!

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!

ARMENTA FISHING

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

SOCIAL SKILLS CLASSES BY JULIE M. ARMENTA M.A. EDUCATION & FAMILY SPECIALIST

7

SUMMER SCHOOL FUN!SUMMER SCHOOL FUN!SUMMER SCHOOL FUN!SUMMER SCHOOL FUN!

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.

ARMENTA PET ACADEMY

At Armenta Pet Academy we believe in estab-lishing 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 emer-gency 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. Ar-menta’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