Greetings & Well Wishes Families,

Welcome to the 2022-2023 Academic School Year at CATA!

Our day begins at 8:00 am. Doors open at 7:50. Our day ends at 3:30 pm. Dismissal begins after 3:30 pm announcements.

We are still working to close the learning gap caused by COVID-19. We need your help!!! Please check with your children daily to ask about homework and what they’re learning. Please follow up with teachers to ask about homework and class assignments. Yes, students will have homework. Yes, students will need to read daily (at all grade levels). Of course, mom, dad, and caring adults we need you to be an active participant each and every day. We cannot do this without you. If you haven’t heard from their teacher, email/Dojo/Remind/text them. Don’t wait on an interim report or report card for your child’s status in school. Teachers are going to be super busy planning and developing lessons to teach every student at grade level. As a member of your child’s educational team, your support is critical to that teacher’s success with your learner. If you don’t know or understand something… ASK.

Please remember we are a uniform school. All students must be in grade level colors unless they wear CATA gear. Hoodies, cardigans, button downs and sweaters are allowed, however they must be solid colors that match the grade level dress code polo shirt underneath. Elementary learners (EK/TK-5) wear solid navy blue polo shirts; middle school learners (6-8) wear solid maroon polo shirts; high school learners (9-12) wear solid black polo shirts. All students are to wear solid khaki bottoms (pants, skirts, skorts, shorts-no holes and past fingertip length).

In addition, we have tried to allow students to keep cell phones. Unfortunately, they have been a tremendous distraction to the flow of the school day. Therefore, CELL PHONES ARE NOT PERMITTED AT CATA. Each homeroom teacher has a lockbox to secure them, if your child needs to have their phone to connect with you after school. Thank you in advance for your assistance and support as we seek to focus on school from 8-3:30 M-F.

Behavior Intervention looks different at CATA. CATA still has our 3 Before Me intervention system in place. This is where your child’s teacher engages in three positive corrective action interventions before they send the student to the office with a discipline referral. At least two of those interventions involve reaching out to you for support. The goal is to build a strong relationship and healthy communication between the student, teacher, and parent. (The exception to 3 Before Me is if the student is engaged in an act of physical violence or aggression. Those incidents may require immediate office intervention and support). Please be aware that our staff intends to rely on your input and guidance on how best to manage challenging behaviors.

Teachers and students are also engaging in Restorative Practices aligned with our Social Emotional Learning goals to maintain a positive and supportive school culture. In addition, we have built a tiered behavior management system that incorporates more alternatives to suspension. CATA will be offering lunch recess, after-school and Saturday School behavior intervention sessions to support students in learning and navigating the expectations of our CATA Culture. In an effort to reduce suspension rates, we are also incorporating CATA Community Service as well.

Finally, and most importantly, thank you for entrusting us with the care and support of your baby. We know you absolutely want the very best for them and we will do all within our power and resources to provide just that.

The CATA Administrative Staff