{photo credit: Olga Filonenko / CC BY-SA 2.0}
Two years ago Down Home posted a list of all the SLO Classical Academy acronyms and definitions that can get pretty confusing around here, especially for new families just joining our community! You have enough to acclimate to, without having to figure out what NOL, IEW, AAS, MPM, PPN, FF, etc. all mean!
This year we decided to update the list and share it with you again. After all, there are new changes and new spaces, so we know both new and returning families will appreciate this crash course in SLOCA-ese.
Here’s a list of all the acronyms and definitions commonly used. You’ll hear and read them often, and eventually you’ll become completely comfortable throwing these terms around. In the meantime, refer to this handy resource. To download this as a Word document, click here.
SLOCA Acronyms and Definitions
SLOCA – San Luis Obispo Classical Academy
sloCAHS – slo Classical Academy High School
GRADES/LEVELS
Little Wonders – consists of Preschool and Junior Kinder
Pre – Preschoolers
JrK – Junior Kindergarteners
K – Kindergarteners
P – Primary
- P1– 1st grade
- P2– 2nd grade
Int – Intermediate
- Int 3 – 3rd grade
- Int 4 – 4th grade
MS – Middle School
- LMS – Lower Middle School (5th and 6th grade)
- UMS – Upper Middle School (7th and 8th grade)
A4 – Track A 4-day program
B4 – Track B 4-day program
HS – High School
OFFICE
NOL – Nice Office Lady – This is the go to person if you don’t know where to go with your questions.
Family Files – each family has a file near the front door in the main office, organized by tracks. This is one method of correspondence or communication. Please check these at least weekly.
Weekly Update – This is an important part of our school communication. Please read each one carefully.
EVENTS/ENRICHMENT
AC – Academy Classes or Academy Clubs (Fridays) – extra enrichment classes that provide an opportunity to try something new or work on specific skills
Friday Foundations – extra Friday enrichment program with options for morning or morning and AC
EDUCATIONAL/TEACHER
Grid and Narrative – weekly information from your teachers emailed to you on Fridays. The narrative gives information on what has gone on during the week and what is coming up. The grid provides the lesson plans – both what will happen at school and what should be done at home. Please read both the grid and the narrative. If you have any questions ask fellow parents and/or your teacher.
IEW – Institute for Excellence in Writing – writing program used for Primary-Middle School. Within the program, you will learn some additional acronyms such as KWO – Key Word Outline.
AAS – All About Spelling – spelling program used in Primary-Intermediate
FLL – First Language Lessons – grammar books used in Primary – LMS
OPG – Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading – used in Kinder and Primary
HIG – Home Instructors Guide – part of the Singapore math program
E&E – Three 4 hour days (or 12 hours) per trimester of enrichment and educational activities (E&E) are required for K-UMS in addition to the regular classroom days and assigned home days. These may include but are not limited to: additional field trips, scheduled school activities on teacher days, catching up on work, doing extra enrichment work, exploring a topic of interest, viewing documentaries of historical movies, museums, etc. (preschool, JK and HS families do not do E&E).
Progress Reports – at the end of each trimester, parents of students in K-UMS will write up a report on how their child has done on the home side of the educational partnership. Forms are provided and can be downloaded from the website. This is a time to reflect on the past trimester and set goals for the coming one. Fellow parents, teachers and staff are always willing to help if needed.
TEAMS
Lead Team – Consists of the Executive Director, High School and Enrichment Director, Preschool Director, Dean of Students, Development Director, and Admissions Director.
Team SLOCA – Consists of all teachers and lead team.
Extended Team SLOCA – Consists of Team SLOCA and extended SLOCA staff (The Den, safety team, etc.)
HEC – History Event Committee – this is the committee that works to plan and organize our wonderful history events.
Liaison – parent who coordinates with the classroom teacher for parties, events such as history day, and possibly classroom connection meetings. This parent also helps to organize teacher gifts. They are a classroom go-to parent.
MEETINGS
MPM – Mandatory Parent Meeting
August – welcome and introduction to the school year
January – business meeting and looking forward to what is coming up
HISTORY/LITERATURE TRAININGS – trimester history and literature trainings for parents are held as the new trimester begins, and are an opportunity to get an overview of what is coming up. These are for parents of students in Primary – UMS (preschool, JK, K and HS parents do not need to come unless you have a student in P-UMS).
PPN – Parent Preview Night – information night for those considering the school. These occur throughout the year.
Classroom Connection (CC) Meetings – these are classroom meetings that a liaison and/or teacher will set up if there is a need (i.e. to talk about history day or a specific curriculum).
PLACES
MPR – Multi-purpose room
The Lab – Room 14 – used for S.T.E.M. opportunities beyond our math and science core classes.
The Den – The Den consists of the library, school store, and outside sitting area.
Lead Team Office – Lead Team works together in one office area in the admin building.
The Cave, the Fishbowl, and the Think Tank – conference rooms in the admin building
Small Playground – fenced playground area behind the main office. K-HS students meet here every school morning at 8:25 for the morning meeting, and Pre-Primary students have their recesses here.
Big Playground – large playground area near the lower parking lot
