News and Events

Please DO NOT allow your child/children to bring blankets to school.  We understand the warmth and comfort but with that comes more falls and messes.
Thanks in advance for your help with this!

This year, YES has a strong focus on revamping one of the most important and fun aspects of school: Recess! Recess is a time when students are able to connect with other classmates in a supportive and safe environment; Remaking Recess is an evidence-based strategy that focuses on just this. The manual reads, “The goal of Remaking Recess is to improve the recess and lunch experiences for all students at school by 1) improving social engagement with peers, 2) maximizing social time with peers, and 3) fostering good relationships with the adults who coordinate these activities” (p. 4). Katie Keith, and the recess staff and volunteers structuring the activities, have been putting hard work into the elementary basketball court, reinventing it by purchasing new equipment, adding four-square, hopscotch, and even a math game. The middle schoolers are also enjoying their brand new basketball court and gaga ball court, a variation of the classic dodgeball played across playgrounds for decades. Recess volunteers are needed and appreciated, please call the office at (530) 692-2210 or email Katie, kkeith@yescharteracademy.org for more information.

Juan Jose Domingo, having years of farming experience, has joined the YES community and is already spearheading important projects to improve our Farm to School program. So far, he has created more garden space by extending the fencing and preparing the soil, turned the greenhouse into a production greenhouse, and completed site preparation for a new orchard including installing a rain garden to retain rainwater for the orchard’s soil. These projects are already encouraging an influx in the amount of fruits and vegetables grown on our campus. The Farm to School Coordinator, Sheila Rolfer, shared “We struggled last winter to procure organic, local produce and that problem has now been solved…he’s a real professional”. With Juan Jose, our winter worries can melt away; the promise of local, organic produce grown right on campus is an important and exciting change for YES. Cherrity Leyson, our Cafeteria Manager, is also thrilled to have a Farmer on the team, saying “…the experience Juan Jose brings with him is invaluable to a small farm just getting started…We not only have the potential to feed our student body with food we know is 100% local and organic but there is also the potential to share some of that bounty with the surrounding community”. Having the bulk of our produce grown on campus largely reduces the carbon footprint at YES and encourages farming education as students are able to see the process firsthand. The breakfasts and lunches served in our cafeteria using the produce Juan Jose is nurturing are sure to be some of the most nutritious and delicious ones yet. We are so excited to have Juan Jose Domingo as a part of the YES family, thank you for your hard work!

Each year since 2011, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) selects around 100 seventh grade girls from around the state to attend a “Tech Trek” for one week in the summer at UC Davis, one of the nation’s top public research universities. During this week, they have dorm mates focused on similar topics, participate in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related activities, and get to know their interests better before they begin eighth grade in the fall. The selection process includes questions about their interests in STEM subjects as well as a recommendation from one of their STEM teachers. The Yuba-Sutter AAUW selected 5 girls from the area this year, including our very own Violeta (Vee) Gentry-Morales! When asked about her experience there, she shared “Tech Trek was one of the best weeks of my life. There were so many things I loved about Tech Trek for starters my favorite was my dorm mates . . . Another thing was learning about anatomy and space, those were my two favorite subjects . . . In the future when I get a career I know that I will probably have to use math and science because those two things are very important. Thank you for everything”. Violeta expressed how grateful she was for her selection to attend this year’s Tech Trek in a letter sent to the organizers. It is clear that the students who attended had an exciting, educational time leaving even more inspired than they arrived. 

Social and emotional support systems are an important focus at YES. A new position, Family Liaison, is being filled by Dawn Kaundart who previously worked in the front office. A new class was implemented as well; Casey Nielsen is teaching the Technology and Media Literacy class throughout the school year that middle school students will attend. There are four main topics covered in this class: social media etiquette and safety, cyberbullying recognition and prevention, using Google Suite applications, and coding. Children, particularly middle schoolers, have more access to media and the internet than ever before. This is both a positive and a negative, as the internet is full of useful and important information that can be easily obtained. However, as Nielsen points out, “in order for technology to be at its most beneficial, students must learn how to use it safely and effectively. That’s the core idea of what Technology and Media Literacy is about–giving students the tools to be able to navigate the ever-changing technological world”. Kaundart, the Family Liaison, will be nurturing the connection between the school and YES families. She provides a familiar face when students are dropped off and picked up and checks in with the parents at this time. She also helps redirect behavior when students are overwhelmed, having a ReSet Room available to them equipped with the tools necessary to help them reset. Kaundart shares, “I plan family friendly school sponsored activities that invite families to our campus. I also have the opportunity to help families in need to connect them to community resources when things are tough.” Constantly learning and improving, each school year at YES becomes more enriching and nurturing.

Chili Cook-off Sign up! Friday October 20th ! Please bring your chili in a crock pot between 2-3pm. Judging starts at 3pm sharp. Volunteers needed as well sign up here

YES was featured on the front page of the Appeal today! The school co-sponsored the Food & Water Festival and hosted many of the workshops on our campus. We were able to share with the community YES’s top ranked Farm to School program while showing our garden, greenhouse and henhouse. Find a link to the article below.
Thank you,
Louise Miller
Principal/Superintendent 
https://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/yes-charter-academy-hosts-community-workshops-during-food-and-water-festival/article_b0506cac-624d-11ee-a905-83b8455eff9d.html

10/2/23

You are invited to a special series of workshops designed to give you parenting tools/ideas. YES is hosting Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) workshops for parents and caregivers on October 4th, 11th, and 18th. The workshops will be after school from 3:00 to 4:00. 

IF YOU WILL NEED CHILDCARE PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME SO I CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.  

NHA is part of the tools we use here at the school when caring for your child/children.

The three event series is hosted by myself and I am truly hoping to NOT be the only one showing up.  The workshop is provided by NHA certified trainers.

Nurtured Heart Approach is an evidence based way of inspiring greatness in children. YES trains all teaching and support staff in this method.

Please take this opportunity to add tools to your tool shed and to meet other YES parents. I look forward to seeing you there!I will have refreshments to share.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have

Dawn Kaundart, 

Family Liaison 530-692-2210