Recordings

• Build Self Advocacy (RECORDING)  Being a good self-advocate has big benefits for kids and adults. People who know how to self-advocate are more likely to do well in school, work, and life. Join us to learn steps to self-advocate for you and your student.
• Student Motivation (RECORDING)  Student motivation is a huge challenge and is the most requested help topic among Learning Coaches and Parents. Studies show that motivation declines continuously from kindergarten through high school. On 11/16/22, Agora invited one of our Parent Mentors (a long-time Learning Coach), a School Counselor, and a Family Coach to present some helpful tips on improving student motivation. Hear what they have to say and learn about some great resources as we all work to help motivate our students to be their best.
• School Multiple Learners (RECORDING)  While cyber schooling one child can sometimes be a difficult job, schooling multiple children can be a daunting task. Many parents ask the question, HOW? We’ve put together some ideas and resources to help our families who are teaching more than one child at home.
• Teach My Kids Online Safety (RECORDING) Parents need to understand how to make informative decisions about how their children use technology, how they monitor, supervise, and provide support. This meeting will help them to understand the potential risks of technology and several ways to reduce the risk using them.

ClassLink is a secure, single sign-on platform used by Agora families and staff. You can think of it as the front door to enter Agora Cyber Charter School and access school applications.  Students will use the standard version of ClassLink while parents and Learning Coaches will use the ClassLink Parent Portal.

Student ClassLink:

• Video: ClassLink Student Portal Setup
• Video: ClassLink Portal Features

Parent/Learning Coach ClassLink:

(Note: the Learning Coach should use ClassLink on a separate device from the student to avoid login errors.)

• Video: Parent ClassLink and ARC

It is important the learning coach and student accounts are setup prior to the first day of school and students are able to access their Online School account and Blackboard Classroom live sessions.

• Video: Set Up OLS Account
• Video: Learning Coach OLS Overview
• Guide: Access Class Connect Recordings in the OLS, Grades K-5
• Guide: Access Class Connect Recordings in the OLS, Grades 6-12

• Student Motivation Resources
• Agora Cyber Charter School Preparation Checklist
• Guide: Desktop organization
• Health and Wellness Resources
• Video: Submitting the ISP Rebate Form
• Curriculum Instruction and Assessment (CIA) Exemption Request – form to request specific course content omissions in opposition to cultural/religious beliefs.  This process requires approval from the CIA department.

ParentSquare is a communication platform that provides a safe way for district administrators, teachers, and staff to communicate with families from one centralized place.  It works similar to other chat/messenger programs you may be familiar with.

Here’s a quick video overview of how ParentSquare works:

• ParentSquare Introduction

Enrolled families will receive an invitation to join ParentSquare by email or text.  Once activated, ParentSquare can be used on most devices.  For more information, you can visit www.parentsquare.com.

Please contact your Teacher or Family Coach directly. You may also visit our Attendance page to view the attendance procedures and policies.

• Video: Submitting an Excuse to Attendance
• Video: Attendance Matters
• Guide: Submitting an Excuse on Mobile Device

• Video: Email Communication
• K-5 Student Email Directions
• 6-12 Student Email Directions

Sapphire allows Agora families to securely access student information.  All students, legal guardians and learning coaches can view class schedules, calendars, quarterly report cards, assessments and grade books.  Legal guardians will submit all student absences, update household data such as phone numbers, emails and address change requests through this system.   Students and learning coaches are provided with directions to create and navigate their Sapphire account during the Orientation Programs in the first week of school.

Through the Sapphire Portal, parents/legal guardians/learning coaches have full access to student information.

Student Access: All students will use ClassLink to access their online school programs and will be able to access Sapphire via ClassLink.

Legal Guardians and Learning Coach Access: Legal Guardians and Learning Coaches will receive an automated email prior to the start of school which will contain information on accessing this new system..

• Video: Sapphire Community Portal Overview
• Video: How to submit an Attendance Excuse in Sapphire

• Guide: Computer Set up Instructions
• Guide: Printer Set-up Instructions
• Guide: Browser Troubleshooting Tips
• Guide: How to Disable Pop Up Blockers
• Guide: Stop Pop Ups
• Guide: Clear Cache and Cookies
• Create Folders and Save Files_ADA
• How to Enable Flash in Chrome 61_ADA

• Microsoft Office Training Page
• Microsoft Office 365 Video Training

This handy resource contains information on getting started as well as links to commonly used areas around the website.  Download the resource by clicking HERE.

• Sight Word Packet Kindergarten
• Sight Words First Grade
• Keys to Success

• Guide: Microsoft word tips for writing assignments
• Guide: How to use PowerPoint
• Send Notifications to your Mobile Phone_Grades 6-12_ADA

• Guide: How to use PowerPoint
• Send Notifications to your Mobile Phone_Grades 6-12_ADA

• Video: Monitoring Progress K-5
• Guide: Understanding Your K-5 Students’ Academic Engagement Score
• Guide: Rubric for Academic Engagement

• Video: Monitoring Progress 6-12

• Video: Monitoring Progress 6-12

Agora Cyber Charter School is excited to inform families that we are a trauma-informed school. In fact, Agora was the first trauma-informed cyber school in the country!

As the only trauma-informed cyber school in the country, Agora Cyber Charter School will seek to:

1. Realize the widespread impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as childhood trauma.
2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma.
3. Respond and integrate knowledge about trauma into school practices to develop resiliency and improve learning outcomes for all children.
4. Resist potentially re-traumatizing students and staff.

Many times, families are not aware of the effects of trauma, or how to react to a child exposed to psychologically distressing events involving intense fear, terror and helplessness.  The brochure below begins to explain how we hope to help through our partnership with the Attachment & Trauma Network, Inc (ATN). We also encourage all families to watch the videos below from one of ATN’s directors to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of trauma in children’s lives:

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE HERE

• Attachment Trauma Network: https://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/
• Email for Attachment Trauma Network if you have child specific questions- [email protected]
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): https://learn.nctsn.org/
• What is Child Traumatic Stress? Guide: What is Child Traumatic Stress 
• Age-related Reactions to Traumatic Stress: Guide: Age Related Reactions to Traumatic Events
• Understanding Child Trauma: Guide: Understanding Child Trauma 
• Lives in the Balance-Dr. Ross Greene- https://livesinthebalance.org/about

We also encourage all families to watch the videos below from Julie Beem, Executive Director of the Attachment & Trauma Network (ATN) to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of trauma in children’s lives. Click on the title to view.

• Session 1.1- What is Trauma
• Session 1.2- Brain Basics and Attachment
• Session 2.1- Could it Be Trauma
• Session 2.2- Strategies- Trauma-informed Parenting
• Session 3.1-  Tips for Learning Coaches A
• Session 3.2- Tips for Learning Coaches B
• Trauma Q & A Session

Please review the Agora Cyber Charter School student handbook to familiarize yourself with the school policies and expectations. A student handbook is created to help maintain a safe and productive school environment. It is beneficial to discuss expectations at the beginning of a new school year so that students know what appropriate behavior is and the possible disciplinary responses that might occur if rules are not followed. With your help and cooperation, we will maintain a safe school environment as our students continue to develop respectful and responsible behaviors. When you have reviewed the student handbook login to your Sapphire account and complete the Student Handbook Sign-off form.

Click here to access the 2024-25 SY Student Handbook