March 2015

Heather Ballien, Principal

2140 University Park Dr. #270
Okemos, MI, 48864
(517) 381-5062

Table of Contents
Principals Message
Field Trips
Testing Information
Math Tutoring
School Calendar
Contact Information

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Its Testing Season!

Just as certainly as March in Michigan means snow and pot holes, it also
means testing for high school students. GLCA students take a variety of
tests, and this issue of the newsletter is packed with important testing information. We all need to work together to help our students be successful, so
please join the GLCA staff in our efforts to Plan, Prepare, and Pack for
these tests.
There will be several communications about the specific test(s) each student will take, so be looking for webmails, snail mail, and phone calls from
GLCA.

Counseling Quote of the Month :

In school we learn the lessons before we take the test.
In life we take the test before we learn the lesson.

Important Dates
February 27 - Holocaust
Museum Field Trip
March 2 - 10th Grade test
March 4 - 9th Grade test
March 2, 3, and 4 - 11th
Grade tests
April 14 , 16, 21, and 23 - 11th
Grade tests

There is a Mobile Learn In in Okemos on Tuesday, February 24. These learn

ins are a great opportunity to meet with teachers in person. This time can
be used to answer content specific or general school questions. This Mobile
Learn In will be at the Tim Horton's located
at 3464 Okemos Road, Okemos, MI 48864.
A light snack will be provided. This Mobile
Learn In is located less than a mile from
GLCA so you could come to see where the
magic happens every day, and meet even
more staff. Please look for an invitation to
this Mobile Learn In and RSVP! We look forward to seeing you there!

Principals Message
Hello GLCA Family We are quickly approaching the half-way point of our spring semester. Where has the time
gone? I dont know about you, but I find that each year passes quicker than the last and it
feels like I have to purposely slow myself down to enjoy the moment. I hope that you find
time to do the same because there are lots of moments that we want you to enjoy.
One way we take purposeful time to slow down and enjoy the moment is through a number
of exciting and engaging field trips have you been able to participate? In January we traveled to the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo. It was quite an eye opening experience and participants
felt that they didnt have enough time to take it all in. In February we decided to embrace all
that Michigans Winter Wonderland had to offer and went ice skating. While not for the
faint hearted, it was a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors and the wonderful company
of staff, students, and families alike. This month we took in the solemn experience of the
Holocaust Museum in Farmington Hills. This was an experience none will soon forget I am
sure.
We still have plenty of field trip opportunities left this year in April we will be touring the
Michigan History Factory and Potter Park Zoo. In May, it will be a trip to the Science Museum. To cap off the 2014-15 school year, June promises a fantastic day experiencing Colonial
Michilimackinac, and the grand finale is a trip to Michigans Adventure in July.
We continue to look for ways to provide an engaging and interactive way for our students
and staff to experience their education and schooling with Great Lakes we hope that you
will be able to find some time, slow down, and enjoy the moment. Our school year is flying
by too fast come join us make some lasting memories and help your student enjoy their
school year and get the most they can from it.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ballien

Ice Skating Field Trip

Despite the chilly
weather outside, GLCA
students, families, and
staff heated up the ice
at the Novi Ice Arena
on February 12!

SAVE THE DATE!

Fort Michilimackinac Field Trip
Date: June 19
Time: 15pm
Where:
Fort Michilimackinac, in
Mackinaw City, MI
What: Tour of the Fort
and a hot dog cookout

Stay tuned for more info!

Testing Information
GLCA students will be taking either the EXPLORE, PLAN, or ACT tests this year, depending
on their grade level. These tests are graduation requirements for all GLCA students.
Here are some testing FAQs:
How do I know which test I am taking?
9th grade students take the EXPLORE test
10th grade students take the PLAN test
11th grade students take the ACT test
12th grade students take the ACT if they did not as 11th graders
Where can I get more information about each test?
EXPLORE http://www.act.org/explorestudent/
PLAN http://www.act.org/planstudent/
ACT http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/
When am I testing?
EXPLOREMarch 4
PLANMarch 2
M-STEP, ACT, Work KeysMarch 2, 3, and 4 AND April 14, 16, 21, and 23
(ALL 7 DAYS ARE REQUIRED for 11th Grade Students)
Where am I testing?
Test sites are based on the students address. All students should have received
information about which location they are assigned to, but if you have any
questions,

please contact your homeroom teacher.

Math Tutoring
The Peer Tutoring program is offered to all students for assistance in Essential Algebra Readiness, Algebra Readiness, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Geometry courses.
Peer Tutoring runs for 15 weeks and occurs every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00
p.m. to midnight. This is a FREE resource!!
The Peer Tutoring LiveLesson meeting room will now be available from the Student
Home Page as a link in the Links area. Students will first be placed in a waiting room
and then paired with a peer tutor in the LiveLesson meeting room.
Students should follow these steps to access the Peer Tutoring LiveLesson meeting
room:
1. From the Student Home Page, select the Peer Tutoring link from the Links area
which will bring you to a Peer Tutor queue.
2. Locate the text box and enter the following information:
A. grade level
B. course
C. teacher
D. school
E. unit/lesson
F. page number/problem number
3. Select Next, and then wait in the waiting room until a tutor is available.
When a tutor is available, students will be transferred to the Peer Tutoring LiveLesson
meeting room and paired with a Peer Tutor. Please note that Peer Tutors can only
help with specific problems from your textbook and cannot help you with tests, quizzes, quick checks, discussions, or portfolios.

Important Dates
March
2, 3, and 4 - ACT & Work Keys tests (11th Grade)
2 - PLAN test (10th Grade)
4 - EXPLORE test (9th Grade)
April
6 - 10 - Spring Break No School
14 - Mobile Learn in - Brighton MI
14, 16, 21, and 23 - M-STEP (11th Grade)
17 - Field Trip - Michigan History Factory Tour
28 - Mobile Learn in - Grand Rapids MI
30 - Field Trip - Potter Park Zoo
May
7 - Field Trip - The Diary of Anne Frank play
12 - Mobile Learn in - Davison MI
15 - Field Trip - Science Museum
17 - Spring Graduation
25 - Memorial Day Holiday - No School
26 - Mobile Learn in - Lincoln Park MI
28 - Last day of second semester
June
9 - Mobile Learn In - Farmington Hills MI
19 - Field Trip - Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinac City
23 - Mobile Learn In - Portage MI
July
10 - Field Trip - Michigan Adventure
14 - Mobile Learn in - Lansing MI
19 - Summer Graduation

Additional information about these events will be

shared through webmail, phone calls, and LiveLessons.

School Contact Information

Great Lakes Cyber Academy
517-381-5062
Principal
Heather Ballien
ext. 302

Special Education
Becky Frank
ext. 306

Math
Angie Owen
ext. 320

Assistant Principal
Peggy Sepetys
ext. 315

Erin Hussey
ext. 311

Jane Halcrow
ext. 328

Casey Mattice
ext. 308

Kristen Wilkerson
ext. 314

Paul Swierpel
ext. 304

Shelby Jackson
ext. 329

Administrative Assistant
Theresa Diaz
ext. 303
Alesha Valentine
ext. 305
Director of Counseling
Sarah Simons
ext. 340
Counselor
Nicole Connor
ext. 312
Onboarding Specialist
Anthony Reisedge
ext. 331
Manager of Special Ed.
Juanita Adams
ext. 325

Mary Urbassik
ext. 317
English
Ashley Gwinn
ext. 310
Kelli Marcus
ext. 321
Joel Muszynski
ext. 322
Sally Schwade
ext. 327

Science
Angela Safferman
ext. 323
Holly Willson
ext. 330
Social Studies
Phil Janis
ext. 319
Alexandra Negrete
ext. 316
Spanish
Elizabeth Sabins
ext. 345