News

High School Pre-registration forms and a Course Guide will be sent home the beginning of next week for the school year 2012-2013. This will help us prepare for which classes will be offered next year.  Pre-registration for an elective class does not guarantee that your child will be put into that class, or even that the class is going to be offered. Pre-registration forms are due by Friday, March 2.

Please contact your Case Manager or Brandy Dougherty (bdougherty@lgamn.org), Academic Director if you have any questions.

9-12^th Grade Course Description
9^th Grade Pre-Registration Form
10^th Grade Pre-Registration Form
11^th Grade Pre-Registration Form
12^th Grade Pre-Registration Form

The Cooking Club will be making some wonderful dishes for the rest of the year. The club would like to ask members of the community to help us teach our students ways to prepare a meal. This week, the club is asking for donations and to borrow some equipment. All donations should be arranged with Aimee Herbes in the

Food Needs:
2 boxes Bisquick
2 5# bags AP flour
2 3# bags granulated sugar
1 bag light brown sugar
1 bag dark brown sugar
Dry yeast
Oatmeal (not instant or quick oats)
2 16oz bags dry lentils (preferably red lentils but not necessary)
1 jar chopped garlic
4 lbs unsalted butter
8 yellow onions
1 lb bacon
1 lb turkey bacon
4 cans petite diced tomatoes

Equipment Wishes: 2 single burner hotplates, 6 quart slow cooker, electric griddle, assorted plastic storage containers (especially square 4qt containers for dry storage)

Cub gift cards are always welcome as they make shopping for last minute needs quick and easy!

The March lunch menu and order form are now available. The order for and check must be in the LGA office by Friday, February 17.

The next monthly Lionsgate Academy School Board Meeting will be 6:00 p.m. Tuesday February 14 in the LGA Fellowship Hall. The board will be updated on the Balanced Literacy initiative, the Director’s report and committee reports.  The public is invited to attend.

View the full agenda.

The 2nd Annual Community in Reach spring breakfast fundraiser is scheduled for May 4 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. The location for this inspiring event is almost secured and we will keep you updated with more information as it gets closer. This fantastic event features our school through a video and stories of the impact Lionsgate Academy has made on our students, their families, and the community.

We are in need of at least 25 Table Hosts to make the event another success!  Being a Table Hosts will involve inviting family, friends, or anyone who is interested in LGA. Last year we were able to raise more than $45,000! This is the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts and we need your help make this year even more successful! To learn more about becoming a Table Host, contact Meta Pautsch (mpautsch@lgamn.org).

The art department is asking for some supplies for an upcoming project. They are looking for any color of yarn. The art department is also requesting masking tape as well. Contact Meta Pautsch (mpautsch@lgamn.org) to inquire about art department donations.

The monthly Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting will be Monday from 3:00-4:20 p.m. PAC is a great opportunity for you to contribute opinions, experiences and ideas about how Lionsgate Academy educates your student.

Lionsgate Academy’s Drama Department is preparing for “Alice in Wonderland,” and we need your input. The rehearsal commitment is larger this year, because it will be our first full-length play. Ms. Prill would like an informal tally of how many students can devote the necessary time to be a part of the production. Rehearsals will run from 3:20-5:00 p.m. three days a week for four weeks (April 16-May 11) and from 3:20-5:00 p.m. for four days a week for two weeks (May 14-24).  Performances are May 24-26 at 7:00 p.m.

Most students in the play will not be called for all rehearsals until the last two weeks and detailed rehearsal schedules will be issued the last week in March. Scheduling conflicts can be arranged on an individual basis. Auditions will be held on March 19 and 22 during club times. There is no guarantee that every student will get a part, though every effort will be made to include all interested students. Please contact Ms. Prill (sprill@lgamn.org) by February 17 if you think your child will take part in this year’s spring play.

Lionsgate Academy Board Members Hemlal Kafle and Marc Berris have resigned, creating two additional vacant seats. The Board will now fill three seats in the spring. One Lionsgate Academy parent, one Lionsgate Academy Licensed staff member and one community member will be elected. More information regarding the nomination process will be communicated in the coming weeks.

Lionsgate Academy Executive Director Stan Hacker released his monthly video address to LGA families today. In the video, Mr. Hacker talks about recent promotions within the staff, reflects on recent events and reiterates the commitment needed for this year’s spring play.

Support Services (OT, Regulation Station, Social Work, Speech and Language Pathology) is requesting some items. These donations will go a long way to teach our students important social skills. The main office is also asking for items to help our staff and students stay healthy as the cold and flu season hits its zenith.

Sundries

• Facial Tissues
• Hand Sanitizer

Games

• Stop, Think, Go
• Find It (Zoo version)
• Perplexus Maze Game
• Catch Phrase (electronic version)
• Stack the Bones
• Sliders
• Cranium
• Logic Links
• Rumis
• Telestrations
• Sort It Out
• Funglish
• Whoonu
• I’ve Never… (Teen Version)
• Sounds Like a Plan
• Rory’s Story Cubes

Books

• One-Minute Mysteries and Brain Teasers by Silverthorne
• Mind Joggers by Petreshene

Art Supplies

• Paint brushes, sketch pads, large roll of paper, paint containers, printer paper, scissors, sidewalk chalk, colored pencils, markers, watercolor paints, and construction paper

The February lunch menu and order form are now available. The order for and check must be in the LGA office by Friday, January 20.

Lionsgate Academy hosted its second annual Snow Ball on January 13, 2012. The dance, titled “Fire and Ice”, was held at the LGA Gymnasium. Many students enjoyed the music provided by Mr. Gorder, games and snacks. “Fire and Ice” was the second of three dances for the school year.

Lionsgate Academy will perform its first ever puppet play on Tuesday, January 24 at 6:00 p.m. in the LGA Worship Center. The International Puppet Palooza is four separate tales; Japanese Duo, Little Mouse Seer, Anasi The African Spider and Fire Demon and the South Wind. The show is a joint production of Mrs. Prill’s 7^th and 8^th grade drama classes. Admission is free, however donations are welcomed. All donations will go to the drama department.

The monthly school board meeting will be Tuesday, January 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Lionsgate Academy Fellowship Hall. The board will discuss the performance indicators for school wide goals. The board will also review committee reports and get an update from the Lionsgate Academy Foundation. The public is invited to attend.

View the entire agenda

Now that it looks as if winter is going to start, this seems to be a good time to review possible snow days. These are the venues where you will find snow closing information.

Online
LionsgateAcademy.org
Facebook Page
On Twitter @LionsgateMN

School Closing Line
(763) 486-5359 *1192

Television
WCCO
KARE 11
Fox 9 News

Radio
WCCO AM 830

Pride Leaders sent club registration sheets home on Monday, January 9. Students will pick their top three choices and return the form to their Pride Leaders by Wednesday, January 18. If a student wants to remain in a particular club, he/she must re-register for that club. There will be no automatic rollover.  Second semester clubs will begin on Monday, February 6.

You can find a club descriptions and the registration form on the Clubs Page of the Lionsgate Academy website.

Lionsgate Academy’s PayPal account is now active. Visit the LGA Foundation page and click on the donate button and securely contribute to Lionsgate Academy. Thank you for your support.

The monthly Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting will be Monday, January 9 from 3:00-4:20 p.m. at Lionsgate Academy.  The PAC is a great opportunity for you to contribute opinions, experiences and ideas about how Lionsgate Academy educates your student.

The annual Snow Ball will be Friday at 6:30 until 9:00 at the Lionsgate Academy gymnasium. There will be refreshments for sale and there will be a photo station. All of the proceeds will go to the student council.

Please make sure that all of the permissions slips for students and guests have been turned in to Pride Leaders. Any student and/or guest who doesn’t have a permission slip on file will not be admitted to the dance and the parents/guardians will be called to pick up the student.

Lionsgate Academy Executive Director Stan Hacker released his monthly video address to LGA families today. In the video, Mr. Hacker talks about second semester clubs and transportation. He also previews future events such as the Snow Ball and the puppet play.

Get your yearbook orders in by Friday, January 13 to get the cheaper $17 price for the yearbook. It makes a great holiday gift!

Order online or get your order forms into your student’s Pride Leader! More order forms can be obtained in the front office or from Ms. Pautsch.

So many germs, so few ways to combat them. Our staff depends on anti-bacterial wipes to clean each classroom. We are currently running low on these very valuable wipes which helps us maintain the health of the staff and students. To arrange a donation, please contact Aimee Herbes (aherbes@lgamn.org) at the front desk.

Lionsgate Academy’s Snow Ball will be Friday January 13 at the LGA gymnasium. Students must fill out the Snow Ball Permission Slip in order to attend. Students may also bring one guest. In order for the guest to be allowed into the building, a guest permission slip form must be filled out and turned in. All forms must be submitted to Ms. Mills in room 18 by January 5.  If a student doesn’t have a signed permission slip on file and shows up to the dance, his/her parent/guardian will be called to pick up the student. Thank you for your cooperation.

The next monthly school board meeting will be 6:00 p.m. Tuesday December 20 in the LGA Fellowship Hall. The board will receive an update on the student individual learning plans from Support Services, ratify the Cornerstone Church lease and review and approve policies. The public is invited to attend.

View the full agenda.

Lionsgate Academy formed its first ever sports team (a soccer squad) to play once, a scrimmage against Groves Academy in St. Louis Park. Some students on the LGA team have never played the game and most must overcome communication deficits that people on the autism spectrum face every day. The Beautiful Game chronicles the team from its inception to its only chance to play against another squad. Win or lose, the team taking the pitch is a victory. Score by Minneapolis musician Sean Maher. Free Introduction Template made by AquuL | http://www.aquul.com/.

The monthly PAC meeting will be this Monday from 3:00-4:20 p.m.  The PAC is a great opportunity for you to contribute opinions, experiences and ideas about how Lionsgate Academy educates your student.

Lionsgate Academy Executive Director Stan Hacker gives his monthly video address. This would have been the November address, but it was postponed due to Thanksgiving. Mr. Hacker talks about two new committees that will be instrumental to the future of Lionsgate Academy. He also outlines LGA’s integrated support services and balanced literacy initiative.

The Comedy/Improv Club will hold its first public performance of the year, Thursday December 8 at the Lionsgate Academy Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). Students in the Comedy/Improv club meet after school on Thursdays. The players work collaboratively to develop scenarios that are both entertaining and thought provoking. The show is free and starts at 4:00 p.m.

The holiday season is approaching and thoughts turn to helping people who are less fortunate. Lionsgate Academy and the U.S. Marines are teaming up for the “Toys for Teens” program. The LGA Drive will be November 28-December 14. Each pride will collect toys that are for teenagers. The pride that collects the most gifts will have the opportunity to deliver them to the Toys for Tots tent at KARE 11 in Golden Valley on December 19. A gift at any dollar amount would be greatly appreciated. For more information about the Toys for Teens program at Lionsgate Academy, contact Mrs. Prill (sprill@lgamn.org).

Lionsgate Academy has published its annual report for the 2010-11 school year. The 80 page document outlines the school’s enrollment policies, governance and management, professional development, finances, academic performance and academic goals. The report also contains the results of the students and parents survey.

The Minnesota Department of Education has also released Lionsgate Academy’s report card. Publication of these documents are required by state law.

The Parent Advisory Council has scheduled the next four monthly meetings. The PAC is a great opportunity for you to contribute opinions, experiences and ideas about how Lionsgate Academy educates your student.

All parents are welcome! Mark your calendars for upcoming Parent Advisory Council meetings.

• Monday, December 5 (3:00-4:20 p.m.)
• Monday, January 9 (3:00-4:20 p.m.)
• Monday, February 6 (3:00-4:20 p.m.)
• Monday, March 5 (3:00-4:20 p.m.)

The Art Club is looking for some materials for an upcoming project. If you can help out, please contact Ms. Mulcare (kmulcare@lgamn.org).

• Wax Paper-1 roll
• Tin Foil-3 rolls
• Duct Tape-4 rolls (BLUE, RED, YELLOW, & GREEN)
• 2 boxes graham crackers
• 2 tubs vanilla frosting |
• 1 bag gum drops
• 1 bag red string licorice
• 1 bag M&M’s
• 1 bag chocolate chips

The December lunch menu and order form are now available. Please turn in the order form and payment to the front office by November 18.

The regular monthly school board meeting will be tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the LGA Fellowship Hall. The school board will review the student code of conduct and the student discipline policy. There will also be updates from the board’s sub-committees. The public is invited to attend.

View tonight’s agenda.

Lionsgate Academy hosted its third annual Fall Ball on Friday, November 4. There were many great moments from the dance and we present a few of them in the in the “60 Seconds Series”.

Don’t forget to order your yearbook! While the official deadline for orders was Friday, November 4, the deadline for the early bird special has been extended until further notice. Yearbooks are $17. Turn your order forms into your Pride Leader or order online.

Lionsgate Academy will host the first of two community meetings at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 8 at LGA. Executive Director Stan Hacker will lead this town hall style meeting. Mr. Hacker will address the goals of the upcoming year, upcoming events and the direction of the school and the new AiM program. The public is invited to attend and your questions are welcomed.

The Emergency Foodshelf Network Food Drive is well under way and as of Tuesday morning we had a total of 577 items! Way to go Lionsgate! The Prides are competing for Reward Time at SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Center. Ms. Merrick’s Pride (Room 4) has the lead on this with a total of 229 items brought in. Keep it up students and families! Either way Lionsgate wins as a school with supporting this great cause and helping to make the kitchens more complete for families in need. Ending date for the Food Drive is Wednesday November 9th.

Lionsgate Academy’s third annual Fall Ball is this Friday at the LGA gymnasium. Students may arrive at 6:30 p.m. and can be picked up any time after that until 9:00. Students will check in with the staff and will be picked up at the south doors. Student pickup will operate similarly to the dismissal process at the end of the school day.

The dress for the dance is semi-formal and the theme is “Vintage Video Games”.

Lionsgate Academy is once again competing for a corporate grant. This time, the award is $50,000 from Clorox and the Power A Bright Future Program. Visit our page and cast your electronic ballot. Much like the Microsoft contest, you may vote once per day. We are up against some large school districts across the country, so every vote counts.

Please pass this information along to your friends, families and other people in your social network. Voting ends in 37 days and the winners will be announced in January. Let's win this one for LGA!!!!

This is UFO, one of Room 7’s (Science Room) pets. He is getting bigger and needs larger accommodations. If you have a large aquarium or reptile tank that you would be willing to donate to the school, the science department and one happy turtle would really appreciate it.

As the weather gets colder, we start to move into cold and flu season.  Lionsgate Academy is in need of boxes of tissues. Please contact Aimee Herbes (aherbes@lgamn.org) to arrange quantity and delivery. Thank you for your continued support of Lionsgate Academy.

Lionsgate Academy Executive Director Stan Hacker gives his monthly video address to LGA parents. This month, Mr. Hacker talks about Lionsgate Academy’s first soccer game, gives details about the upcoming Fall Ball and invites the public to the Lionsgate Academy Community Meeting on November 8.

At one point or another, we’ve all wanted to tell a teacher to “go jump in a lake.” This winter, it becomes a reality. Team Lionsgate is raising money for the Special Olympics during the Polar Plunge February 4 at Weaver Lake in Maple Grove. This is a cause that is very close to Lionsgate. Please help LGA raise the most money. You can either make a donation or join the team by visiting the Lionsgate Page on the Polar Plunge website.

The Achieving in Maturity (AiM) program will host an open house from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday October 27 at the LGA Fellowship Hall. There will be food and a tour of the facility. The new AiM Program is Lionsgate Academy’s transitions program for 18-21-year-olds. If you plan on attending, please RSVP online.

The Drama Department is gearing up for the upcoming puppet show. They need the following items.

• Acrylic paint (all colors)
• Fabric (1 yd or larger)
• 1×2 – 1×4 wood – dowels
• Yarn (anything else used for making large puppets made out of cardboard)

The November menu and order form are ready for LGA families. Payment in full is due in the Lionsgate Academy office by October 24.

Lionsgate Academy will play in its first ever inter school soccer match on Monday, October 24 at 5:00 p.m. The LGA Lions will face off against Groves Academy at Carpenter Park (3001 Raleigh Ave S. in St. Louis Park). Cheer on the team and don your Spirit Wear in support of LGA’s first athletic team.

Lionsgate Academy relies on the generosity of parents, staff and community members to help us help our students. From time to time, LGA will ask for donations for our school. That’s why we have created the new Wish List on our website. Please take some time to review the list. New requests will be featured on the Wish List and on the News Feed.

The next school board meeting will be 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 18 at Lionsgate Academy. The board agenda includes Student Individual Learning Plans, following up on the director’s survey and the appointment of the vacant board of directors seat. The meeting is open to the public and attendance is encouraged.

View the full agenda.

Prides will be competing to benefit the Emergency Foodshelf Network (EFN) from Monday, October 17 until Wednesday, November 9. The goal is for each Pride to bring in the most items to donate to EFN. Pride rooms 18 and 23 will be collecting the items and tracking them as they are brought in. The pride with the most items will win reward time at SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Center during an upcoming school day. The ENF has posted a list of suggested items.

Picture retake day will be Tuesday, October 18. Download and print the order form. Students should give it and the check to the photographer.

LGA Parent Pride invites you, your family, and LGA staff to join us for a get-to-know-you potluck dinner on Thursday, October 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 in the Fellowship Hall.  Please come when you can and stay as long as you would like, and enjoy dinner, meet other LGA families, play some board games, and find out what Parent Pride is all about.  Please bring a dish to share (Last names A-D bring a dessert, E-M bring a main dish, and N-Z bring a salad/side dish) and remember that LGA is a “fish-free” school.  Parent Pride looks forward to seeing you at the potluck!

Lionsgate Academy has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Microsoft Store “Win Big for You and Your School” contest, sponsored by Microsoft. The grand-prize winner earns $50,000 in Microsoft software and $10,000 in Microsoft software will be awarded to other first place winners.

Winning this contest would be a huge lift in educating our students and allowing the staff to better track data at our school.

In order to be determined a winner, LGA must receive the most votes from our contest region. You can vote once a day. Voting will end at 11:59 p.m. PDT on October 9 (1:59 a.m. October 10, Minnesota time). Please tell your friends and family to vote LGA.

We’re up against two larger school systems, so every vote counts! Visit the Microsoft Contest page to vote for Lionsgate Academy in the MN-WI region.

What are your true colors when it comes to bullying? If you care about students who are bullied and want it to end, make your color orange on Unity Day, Wednesday, October 12. That’s the day everyone can link together—in schools, communities and online by wearing orange to support students who have experienced bullying. Pride rooms 18 and 23 are working to make this day noticed at Lionsgate and are currently selling Unity Day ribbon pins for students to wear on October 12. Students are also encouraged to wear orange clothes that day. Students can buy the ribbon pins from Ms. O’Meara for $1 each and staff can purchase them for $2. All proceeds will be donated to PACER’s Bully Prevention Program. Thank you for your support of this important value at Lionsgate!

The first Lionsgate Parent Advisory Council (formally known as SEAC) meeting will be Monday, October 10 from 3:00-4:20 in the Fellowship Hall. It’s an opportunity for you to contribute opinions, experiences and ideas about how LGA educates your student, and it allows LGA staff to ask you the same regarding policies and programs it is considering.  The possible agendas for meetings is quite broad, and can include practical things like microwave use to significant staff policies.  For more information contact the current chairperson, John Villerius.

Buy your yearbook now and save money! Yearbook order forms have been sent home this week. Keep your eyes open for a green Josten’s order form with a convenient detachable envelope. Yearbooks are $17 this year and the price will rise to $20 this January…so order now! We ran out of extra yearbooks last year, so make sure to place your order now!

There are two ways to order your yearbook:

1. Send the envelope order form back to school with a check for $17 made out to: Lionsgate/Yearbook.
2. Order online.

If you would like your child’s name and/or icons stamped on the book, you MUST order your book online. You can only order standard ($17) yearbooks with the “hard copy” order forms that are sent back to school.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact e-mail Ms. Pautsch or call 763.486.5359 (Ext. 310).

Lionsgate Academy strives to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for students and staff.  This year there are individuals at LGA who have severe allergies to fish and shellfish.  It is generally recommended that individuals who are allergic to one species of fish avoid all fish. Because of this, LGA needs to be “fish-free”. This means that absolutely no foods containing fish will be allowed in the building for lunches or snacks for students or staff.

Here is a list of some of (but not limited to) the fish foods that cannot be brought to school.

• Salmon
• Halibut
• Tilapa
• Fish sticks
• Tuna (including tuna salad and tuna fish sandwiches)
• Shellfish (such as shrimp, lobster, crab)
• Sushi
• Imitation seafood such as crab
• Ceasar salad dressing (contains anchovies)
• Foods made with Worchestershire Sauce (which contains fish) such as Barbecue sauce
• Fish sauce (used in asian/Vietnamese foods often)

Thanks for your efforts to keep LGA “Fish-Free”.  Please e-mail Mary Ellen West if you have any questions or concerns.

Parent Teachers Conferences will be Monday and Tuesday from noon-8p.m. There will be no classes at LGA. If you have greater concerns, we encourage you to contact the teacher prior to or after conferences to discuss further.

Lionsgate Academy’s Theater Department is thrilled to announce the spring play, Alice in Wonderland, will be May 26, 27 and 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Perpich Center for Arts Education. For the second year in a row, LGA is fortunate to partner with Perpich Center for Arts Education as a sponsor for this event. Please take the time to visit art gallery openings, see a play, musical performance or dance performance at Perpich this school year and see how vital this state institution is to Minnesota and how important this partnership is to our artistic future.

If you have any questions or concerns contact Sarah Prill.

Lionsgate Academy Executive Director Stan Hacker issues his first video e-mail of the 2011-12 school year. He recaps the first three weeks of school and announces LGA’s first ever soccer match.

The first of two Parent/Teacher conferences will be October 3-4 from 12:30-8:00 p.m. at LGA. Students will not have class those days. Families are asked to stay within their hour time slot so that all families have the opportunity to meet with teachers. This will limit your time to a maximum of ten minutes per teacher. If you have greater concerns, we encourage you to contact the teacher prior to or after conferences to discuss further. Case managers will be on site during that time but will not meet with families.

Clubs have been finalized and are set to start Monday. Case managers will contact families with club information, including date. Clubs will meet on Mondays and Thursdays this year. Here is the list of clubs for the first semester.

Monday
Auto
Board/Card Games
Fencing
Lego
Music/Instrumental
Music/Percussion
Music/Production
Music/Vocal
Soccer/Team Sports
Homework Hub

Thursday
Art
Board/Card Games
Comedy/Improv
Computer
Cooking
Environmental
Lego
Martial Arts
Soccer/Team Sports
Homework Hub

The October menu and order forms are ready for LGA families. Payment in full is due in the Lionsgate Academy office by September 21.

Download the printable version of the Lionsgate 2011-2012 School Supply List.

Specific Subjects:

Turn in to your Pride leaders:

• Tissues
• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfectant wipes (optional)
• Individually Wrapped Snacks (small bags of chips/crackers, seeds, nuts, granola bars, fruit snacks, oldfish, fresh fruit/veggies, etc.)
• Hard candy/Gum
• Water-based Markers
• 2 pkts loose-leaf notebook paper
• Glue sticks 3-2 packets
• Scotch tape
• Appropriate personal fidgets
• Extra #2 pencils
• Expo-dry erase markers
• Composition Book for Journaling in Pride

• 1” 3-ring binder*
• 1-Set of 5 dividers*

11/12th Chemistry/Physics

• Scientific Calculator TI-30 or above
• 1” 3-ring binder*
• 1-Set of 5 dividers*

7/8th & 11/12th Language Arts

• 1 spiral notebook*
• Expected to have a reading book with them everyday. They are able to check one out from the school or bring one from home.

9/10th Language Arts

• 1 Composition Book*
• 2-D Art & High School Foundations Art
• 1-1″ 3 ring binder*

Alg 1, Geometry, Alg 2, Pre-Calc/Calculus:

• Calculator: TI-83, TI-84 or TI-84 Silver edition

Spanish7/8th World History/World Geog. & 11/12th Sociology

• 1-1” HARD cover 3-ring binder*
• Set of 5-6 dividers*

9/10 World History & 11/12th World Cultures

• 1-3” ring binder*
• loose leaf paper (for the binder)
• 3 dividers*

High School Transition Classes

• 1-1″ 3-ring binders*
• 5 dividers
• 1- “Ringdex Index Cards  (Index cards with a ring)

* These items will be kept in the classroom.

Lionsgate Academy’s third year was a banner year. It was a year of firsts, with the inaugural spring play, spring gala and graduation ceremony. This is a quick look back at LGA’s best year yet.

Field Day is a Lionsgate Academy tradition which started the first year LGA was open. On the last day of school, the students participate in a multitude of games. When the students leave for the day, they walk a gauntlet of applause and high fives.

Lionsgate Academy Executive Director Stan Hacker announced today that the Minnesota Department of Education has approved the transfer of the school’s authorizer, from Adler Institute of Minnesota to Novations Educational Opportunities. Minnesota state law requires that a charter school must have an educational organization that meets national standards and holds their schools accountable in meeting expectations. According to its website, the MDE currently recognizes 25 authorizers.

Hacker stated that the news of the approval coming before the possible state government shutdown was welcomed. “We were always confident that Lionsgate Academy would get the necessary approval, but it certainly was a good feeling to finally get the letter from MDE before 7/1/11.”

On March 24, 2011, Lionsgate Academy presented its first ever spring play. The documentary, An Evening With The Greeks, takes you behind the scenes from auditions to the curtain call. The cast, crew and directors work on a condensed schedule to overcome prop damage and several cast members falling ill days before the opening to present a triumphant show.

Lionsgate Academy held its third annual picnic and talent show Sunday at LGA. Students, families and staff were treated to grilled hamburgers and hot dogs along with pizza and chicken wings from Pizza Hut. The instrumental club, school choir, percussion club and the student band, The Alpaca Project performed for over 100 people. Individual students and staff members also sang, danced and told jokes. The following video shows some of the many highlights.

The school year may be coming to an end soon, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take your Lionsgate pride with you this summer. You can now buy your LGA Spirit Wear at the Roar Store by the main entrance. Jerseys are $20 and T-Shirts are $16.50. The Roar Store is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 8-8:15 a.m. and 3-3:15 p.m.

Lionsgate Academy would like to thank the Spring Gala committee and the many volunteers who helped make the inaugural Spring Gala a great success. There were many wonderful moments on Friday night, and we have captured some of them in a one minute video, titled “Lionsgate Academy Spring Gala in 60 Seconds.”

Lionsgate Academy’s inaugural Spring Gala is tonight at the LGA gym. The event will start at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please drop students off at the Main doors on the east side of the building. Parents are encouraged to join us from 6:30-7:00 for an opportunity to take pictures. There will be a grand march at 7pm, during which students will be escorted through Fellowship Hall to the Gym, where the dance will begin. We will start lining up students at 6:45 pm for the grand march. Parents will remain in the Fellowship Hall and the students will march through the Fellowship Hall as they make their way to the gym. This will allow for more photo opportunities.

There is no cost to attend the dance. There will be a photo area set up for students to get their picture taken and can purchase photos for $1 per print. There will be free appetizers and beverages. The dance will end at 9pm. Parents need to pick their son/daughter up at the south end doors at the end of the night (normal doors used for dances).

Lionsgate Academy would like to extend congratulations to the three new members of the LGA school board: Marc Berris,  Hemlal Kafle and Oscar Wojciechowski-Prill.

Lionsgate would also like to thank the three outgoing members: Jane Houlton, Joe Timmons and Founding Board Chair, Dr. Steven Waisbren. Their dedication over the last three years has made an indelible mark on the creation and direction of Lionsgate Academy.

Please join “Team Lionsgate” on May 21, 2011 at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis for the Autism 5K Run/Walk!  Wear your LGA apparel or blue and gold to show your Lionsgate pride!

The Autism 5K had 1850 participants in 2011, evenly split between runners and walkers, with many families and groups joining in – all for a great cause. You can register online or download the registration form.

Visit and Autism 5k website for more details.

The May Lionsgate Academy School Board has been rescheduled. It will be on May 17 at 6pm at Lionsgate Academy.

Lionsgate Academy was featured on TV 12 (Northwest Suburbs) during last Friday Night’s newscast. The story goes inside our art and drama classes and highlights the unique experiences our students have at LGA.

“Emphasis is also on the social experience, which is often much harder than academics for students with autism,” reported TV 12 reporter Shannon Slatton.

TV 12 serves the Northwest Suburbs of the Twin Cities.

The Lionsgate Academy School Board is holding its election to fill five board seats this month. Presently, 4 candidates are running for 3 community seats, 1 candidate for 1 staff seat and 1 candidate for the parent seat. Eligible voting members include the school staff along with all parents/guardians of Lionsgate Academy students.

Please study these bios to choose who you think might have the best skills to serve in this very important role.

You have two options for casting your ballot.

First, you can stop by the Academy to cast your ballot in person on Tuesday, May 3rd, from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm.  The voting will take place in the foyer of the Worship Center.  There will signs up to point you in the right direction.  Each family member will need to bring a picture ID, while Lionsgate employees can show their Lionsgate ID badge.

Second, is to print and fill out the attached ballot and mail it in an envelope to:

Board Election
Lionsgate Academy
3420 Nevada Avenue North
Crystal, MN 55427

Please sign the flap of the envelope and print your name on the bottom of the back of the envelope.  While the back of the envelope will need to be signed by a voting member for it to be valid, you will not need to put your name on the ballotitself, in order to keep it anonymous. Each ballot must be postmarked by Saturday, April 30th to be counted. Please include only one ballot per mailed envelope.

No phone call or absentee votes will be accepted. All votes will be counted on May 3rd, with 2 people counting every vote. The community will be notified of the results at the May Board Meeting –assuming a positive outcome of criminal background checks, which are required by statute.

Please e-mail Brandy Dougherty (bdougherty@lgamn.org) if you have any questions.

Download the 2011 LGA School Board Election Ballot

Community Members

Ron Berger – Incumbent
Hemlal Kafle
Jonathan Scharlau – Incumbent
Todd Schwartzberg

Staff Member

Oscar Prill – Unopposed

Parent Member

Marc Berris – Unopposed

Greetings from Lionsgate Academy,

I am sorry to report that our executive director, Stan Hacker, is now in the hospital tentatively scheduled for heart surgery on Friday. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

A contingency plan is in place for just such an event. Our school cabinet, comprised of Caroline Carritt, Brandy Dougherty and Joe Faulkner, has divided up Stan’s duties in his absence. We have notified both our authorizer and the Minnesota Department of Education. Our school board met last evening and will work closely with administration through this challenge.

A Caring Bridge webpage has been set up to provide updates on Stan’s progress. Stan’s family has requested that you refer to this webpage for information rather than phone calls.

As always, please call your child’s case manager if you have any questions about your student. Once again, we wish for Stan to get well soon and all look forward to his return.

All my best,

Steven J. Waisbren, M.D., Ph.D.
School Board Chair
Lionsgate Academy

The following video, Lionsgate – A Day in the Life, was presented at the recent benefit breakfast. The eight minute video shows Lionsgate classrooms during the day, highlights student, staff and parent testimonies and demonstrates the impact Lionsgate has had on two families.

The film was shot and produced by independent film maker Kiersten Dunbar Chace. Her documentaries have been official selections at the Doc Challenge Hot Docs Toronto, Bermuda International Film Festival and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival.

The Gala Committee is well underway in planning the Spring Gala (Prom). They are looking for some “Hawaiian” or “Cruise” themed decorations that people would be willing to donate. The committee would like to wait until they get some donations in before spending funds on decorations. They need to decide what will be purchased by May 6th, so if you intend on donating, please do so by this date. Thank you very much for your time and contributions!

The third annual Ride for the Kids will roar to life on Saturday June 18 at 11a.m. The near 160 mile ride will begin at Castle Rock & Roll Bar and Grill in Northfield. Riders will be provided a free breakfast and dinner.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m. the day of the ride and there will be a $20 rider donation. All proceeds will be donated to Lionsgate Academy.  Download the official flyer for complete details on the ride.

The 2nd Annual Arts Showcase will be held on  Friday, April 29 at Lionsgate Academy.

The showcase will feature improv comedy, performance art and the premiere of the claymation videos created in Ms. Pautsch’s art classes. The school choir and percussion clubs will perform as well as the Alpaca Project, a Lionsgate student band.

In addition to these performances,  Lionsgate student artwork displayed throughout the building. The Art Department will also be hosting a benefit art sale featuring student-made artwork. DVDs of the spring play will also be available for purchase.

The doors will open at 6:00 PM to allow visitors to view the visual arts pieces. The performance will begin at 7 :00 PM in the Worship Center.

There is a five dollar suggested donation and the event is open to the public.

In preparation for the upcoming School Board Election, Lionsgate Academy will be hosting a  “Meet the Candidates” night from 7-9 PM on Monday, April 11, 2011. The event is open to all Lionsgate community members.

The biographies of the board candidates are available below:

Parents

Marc S. Berris

Staff
Oscar Wojciechowski-Prill

Community
Ron Berger
Hemi Kafle
Jonathan Scharlau
Todd Schwartzberg

For more information on the election, please see the School Board Election Page.

Lionsgate Executive Director Stan Hacker gives his pre-spring break address to the LGA community. He thanks the staff, students and parents who were involved with the spring play and previews the upcoming art show. Mr. Hacker also gives important information about the upcoming April 15th fundraiser and Driver’s Education at Lionsgate.

The Lionsgate School Board Election will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM at Lionsgate Academy.

The school board is comprised of three groups: parents, staff and community members. There are nine regular positions on the board and this election will fill five upcoming vacancies in the following categories:

1 Parent

1 Staff Member

3 Community Members

All LGA staff and parents of currently enrolled students are eligible to vote.

Please see the School Board Election Page for more information.

The School Board will meet at 6:00 tonight at Lionsgate Academy. The School Board will discuss the moderator format for “Meet the Candidates” night, review the Governance Committee Charge and update the community on driver’s education at Lionsgate.

Tonight’s Agenda

There are clubs this week, but there are no after school clubs the week after spring break (April 11-15), because it is the first week of the quarter.  New sign up forms will sent home Wednesday, March 30th for 4th quarter clubs and will also be available on the website by the end of the day on Wednesday.  There will be some club changes, but many will stay the same.

If your student was involved in the play (acting) they do not have clubs on Wednesday or Thursday (this week), but if they would like to participate in Comedy Improv today (only), Ms. Prill will be running that club in the Fellowship Hall.  If your student was involved in Theater Tech, they are welcome to join the multi-media club on Wednesday.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Ms. Prill (sprill@lgamn.org) or Mr. Suggs (dsuggs@lgamn.org).

Due to the inclement weather and poor driving conditions, all after school clubs, including rehearsals for the spring play, will be cancelled today, Wednesday, March 23rd.

The curtain for Lionsgate Academy’s first spring play is set to go up next Thursday and Friday at Perpich Center for the Arts in Golden Valley. This year’s production, An Evening With The Greeks, is a compilation of five one-act plays based on Greek Mythology.

The players will perform Pandora’s Box, Echo and Narcissus, Demeter and Persephone, Atalanta and the Great Race, and Orpheus and Eurydice. Admission is free, however there is a suggested donation of $5. The doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:00. For more, contact Mrs. Prill at sprill@lgamn.org.

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) will meet tonight at 6:30 PM at Lionsgate Academy.  SEAC will discuss training with PACER, SEAC recruitment and hear updates from the heads of special education and transitions.

Executive Director Stan Hacker adds more information that was not covered in the previous video address. Mr. Hacker discusses staffing changes that have occurred in the last six weeks, invites the community to our upcoming spring play and discusses the pending snow storm.

The March Lionsgate Community (formally PTO) meeting will be 6:30 tonight at Lionsgate Academy. The Community will review the voting procedure for new board members and review the Valentine’s Day Flower sale.

We would like to invite the parents of 2010-2011′s senior class to an informational meeting about ESE on this coming Tuesday, March 8th at 6:00 PM.

Please join us Saturday Morning March 5th at 10:00am for a presentation and Q & A session to learn more about our program, history, and enrollment options. Families are welcome to attend and we do not require prior notice to attend this session. Please contact Elaine Campbell with any questions.

Lionsgate Executive Director Stan Hacker gives his monthly address to the LGA community. Mr. Hacker discusses parent-teacher conferences and the upcoming Lionsgate fundraising breakfast in April.

MCA State Testing starts the second week of April right after we get back from spring break. Please review the testing dates below and make every effort to have your student well rested, well fed and at school on the days of his or her test.

The Minnesota Department of Education has provided the links below to answer common MCA questions, offer useful testing tips, and provide test samples.

What are the MCAs?

Test Preparations and Suggestions

Test Samplers

High School Students:

Make-up Dates:

Middle School Students:

Make-up Dates:

The Lionsgate Academy School Board is currently accepting nominations for upcoming vacancies. Please read the Nomination Letter for more information and complete the Lionsgate Academy Nomination Form if you are interested in nominating yourself or another to run for the School Board. Nominations will be accepted until March 13, 2011 and the Board Election will be held on May 3, 2011. Please contact Jonathan Scharlau, Nomination Committee Chair, at jscharlau@silveroakwealth.com for more information.

Please bear with us. We are experiencing technical difficulties with our website and we appreciate your patience as our tech team works to remedy the situation. Please call the main office at 763-486-5359 if you need assistance.

There will be no clubs for the week of parent-teachers conferences. However, there will be rehearsals for the spring play on Monday and Thursday at the regularly scheduled time.

Parent-Teacher conferences will be held at Lionsgate Academy next week; Monday, February 28 4-8 p.m.; Wednesday, March 2 10-noon and 1-3 p.m.; and Thursday, March 3, 4-8 p.m.

Because parents are in frequent contact with case managers, we ask that you take advantage of the opportunity during conferences to meet with your student’s general education teachers. If you have concerns that need to be addressed with your student’s case manager, please email your case manager before or after the conference time in order to problem solve.

Please stay within your scheduled block of time. When meeting with a General Education teachers, please make sure you are limiting each meeting to 10 minutes or less. Teachers are working on doing the same. If there are larger concerns please communicate with that teacher outside of conferences if further discussion is needed.

Your case manager will contact you soon to schedule your conference time. If you don’t hear from them by the end of the week, feel free to contact them.

LGA Executive Director Stan Hacker addressed parents and staff during the Lionsgate Community meeting on February 8. Mr. Hacker reviewed the first half of the school year and outlined the goals for the rest of the year and beyond.

The next Lionsgate Community will be Monday March 7 at Lionsgate.

We hope that everyone enjoyed the three-day weekend. Although we didn’t have classes on Monday, we will still have after school clubs on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Hello, Parents

I am writing in hopes to recuit a few volunteers.  We need a few people that have some extra time and some basic sewing skills to construct a few ‘Greek Chitons’ (a.k.a togas) for the Spring Play.  This is a very simple project and I will provide clear directions and fabric to you. Since we don’t have sewing machines here at school, it would probably work best to have the projects done at home.  If you are able to construct a few (2-5), please let me know by the end of this week, so I can plan everything out and get the projects doled out by the end of next week.

Thank You,

Sarah Prill

Lionsgate Academy is proud to present its first short documentary, Mosaic. The video covers a permanent-installation mosaic that was recently created in Lionsgate art classes under the mentoring of  Artist-In-Residence Anne Krocak. The documentary chronicles the creation of the piece, the two-day process of installing the mosaic in the school entryway, and the unveiling ceremony which took place two weeks ago. The video premiered yesterday at Lionsgate’s weekly staff meeting.

The documentary is posted on the Lionsgate Academy TV page on YouTube and Vimeo.

Lionsgate Academy’s Executive Director, Stan Hacker, responded to the article in the Feburary 2nd edition of the Star Tribune about charter schools in Minnesota closing. The article focused on a state law that mandates the closing of charter school if they do not have an authorizer before the end of June.

Mr. Hacker announced that Lionsgate has been accepted by a new authorizer, Novation Education Opportunity, for the upcoming year. “They’re impressed with our organization, so they have accepted, and they will confirm at their board meeting on the 16^th of February that they want to be our authorizer,” said Mr. Hacker.

This is the first of a monthly video newsletter for the students and families of Lionsgate Academy. In this video, Mr. Hacker talks about the structure of this new communication format and upcoming events at LGA.

The Art Project Mosaic will be unveiled today during a ceremony at Lionsgate Academy.   Nearly 100 students created two tiles each, one that represents who they are now and the other symbolizes their hopes and dreams for the future. The 12-piece mosaic is located at the end of the main entrance hallway.

“We thought about what’s so important to this school, which is change,” said Lionsgate Academy art teacher, Ms. Pautsch. “That’s how the theme of growth came about.”

The ceremony will be at 2:30 today at the Fellowship Hall. Students and parents are welcomed to attend.

Lionsgate Academy released the list of new clubs for the second semester. New clubs include College Prep, the Cultural/Environmental Club, Mechanicians Club, Theater Tech, Driver’s Ed and the Spring Play. With new clubs, however, this means that some clubs will close. This is the last week for the Auto Club, Knowledge Bowl, Crafts Club, Engineering Club and the Multi-Media Club.

The new club list and sign-up form are available online. The forms must be returned to Mr. Suggs by February 4.

The Theater Department today announced the schedule for the upcoming spring play. The untitled production will consist of six short one-act features that are based on Greek Mythology.

“We figured that this is our first show, so why not start at the beginning of western theater?” Said Mrs. Prill, the show’s producer.

Auditions for the school play will be February 7-11 at various locations at LGA. Rehearsals will be held during club times from February 14 thru March 24. Students will be asked to commit to two days a week and are free to choose which club days to rehearse. However, if students can only commit to only one day a week, they can find a small part. Performances will be March 24-25 at the Perpich Center for the Arts in Golden Valley.

Mrs. Prill says that the production is still looking for 1 or 2 other directors and 10 or 11 assistant directors. Contact Mr. Suggs for any questions and volunteering opportunities.

We would like to share the 2010-2011 Minnesota State and District Testing information with you. We hope the information below answers questions you may have about the testing process.

All students at Lionsgate Academy take part in State and District testing. The Minnesota State Test (MCA test) is held once a year in the spring. The District Assessment Tests (Measurement of Academic Progress or MAP tests) are held three times a year in the fall, winter, and spring.

LGA Testing Snapshot
Lionsgate Academy Testing Calendar 2010-11

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to postpone Spirit Week and the Fall Ball at Lionsgate Academy. Spirit Week will start on Monday, November 29 and conclude on December 3, with the second annual Fall Ball. The dance will be from 6:30 – 9:00 PM.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Ms. Pfeffer and Mr. Friedley’s Prides are running a Food Drive through the Emergency Foodshelf Network (EFN)! Please participate and donate non-perishible food items for the less fortunate. There are locations in the school in which you can donate- The Fellowship Hall and the Main Office. The food drive for the EFN ends on November 23rd.

Look your best on Thursday November 4 for Lionsgate Academy’s picture day. Check your mail for the picture order form.

Johana Sand, who has been our primary on-staff financial manager, will be transitioning to a new role.   One of her primary goals in her new role will be to help LGA find a new authorizer by June 30, 2011. The Minnesota Department of Education has created a very complicated process for organizations to be approved to authorize charter schools and for charter schools to find appropriate authorizers. Johana has a vast amount of experience helping schools obtain authorizers and is the ideal candidate to head this effort.  In addition, Johana will be spearheading Lionsgate’s fundraising campaign.

Lionsgate’s financial needs continue to grow and we have hired Dave Reinke as our part-time, on-site business manager. Dave is coming to Lionsgate with significant financial experience and we are excited to have him on staff.

Jessica Kitzman, one of the art educational assistants at Lionsgate Academy, is one of the artists selected to be a part of B-Girl Be 2010: Carnival’s Sideshow. The interactive visual art exposition, which is a collaboration of seven female Twin Cities’ artists, shows that women have a voice in hip-hop.

Kitzman says that she has three paintings and a mural on display. She added that every artist has contributed a self-portrait to the collection.

The gallery is open to the public from10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon to 5p.m. on Saturdays until September 18 at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. South in Minneapolis. There is a suggested $3 donation. A free opening reception is tonight from 7-10.

Congratulations, Jessica!

Dustin Suggs, the drama educational assistant at Lionsgate Academy, will be on stage tonight as Nature opens at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen.

“It’s about Emerson and Thoreau’s relationship with each other, and nature,” says Suggs, who will be featured in the chorus. According to the show’s website, it will be performed outdoors and was written and produced by TigerLions Arts.

This isn’t Suggs’s first on stage appearance since he joined LGA last year. He has been in two productions of MacBeth, including the production at the Gutherie last spring.

Nature opens tonight at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum tonight and runs until September 5. Showtimes are 6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $9 for non-Arboretum members, and admission is 2 for 1 on Thursdays.

Break a leg, Dustin!

Border Foods (owner of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and other restaurants) has offered to do an exciting fundraiser for Lionsgate on August 21, 2010 — a motorcycle ride for which all of the proceeds will benefit the Academy. This will be a wonderful event to support if you like riding or if you just want to come out and join the party!

THE RIDE WILL BEGIN/END AT THE PIZZA HUT IN STILLWATER ON AUGUST 21, AT 10:30 AM. IT WILL LAST APPROXIMATELY 3-1/2 HOURS.

Visit the official website for more information and registration.

And please let your family and friends know!

Contact Johana Sand at 612-382-7419 or e-mail at jsand@lgamn.org if you have any questions.