Charter Chatter
A weekly newsletter written to parents of the Tracy Learning Center
August 15, 2014 No.2
| Virginia Stewart |
Over the past five years, the public charter school movement has grown dramatically. We now serve more than 2.5 million students in more than 6,400 schools! We’ve seen public support rise year after year and we have bipartisan champions across the country fighting for more high-quality charter schools. We are very grateful for the work done in Tracy to pass the latest bond since we are definitely going to receive some improvements to our facilities.
Between the 2008–09 and 2013–14 school years, the public charter school movement experienced a dramatic 80 percent increase in the number of students and an astounding 40 percent increase in the number of schools. Despite this growth, there is still an overwhelming unmet parental demand for quality school options, with more than 1 million student names on charter school waiting lists. The Tracy Learning Center has an enrollment of approximately 1200 students with a waiting list at every grade.
Despite this overwhelming support, we still have vocal critics who continue to perpetuate a number of myths about charter schools. These myths are unfair because they usually come from people who have never visited a charter school. Let’s explore just one:
The charter school does not give tenure to teachers. That myth is correct. Good teachers should not have to worry about tenure. Our teachers have a job as long as they are doing a good job and we have students who want to attend our schools. It is just like a business. The business closes if there are no customers. The students and their parents are our customers.
Charter schools were given permission to exist to explore new and more improved ways to help students be successful. The Tracy Learning Center is committed to helping all students excel. All students are taught at the appropriate level of instruction to ensure success and to gain progress. Our results are outstanding. We are very proud of the accomplishments of our students at all levels.
| Misc. Announcements |
MHS Picture Day is Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014
DCS and PHSA Picture Day is Wednesday, Aug, 27, 2014
Picture Order Forms have been sent home.
Next Holiday
Monday, Sept. 1, 2014 Labor Day is a school holiday
| PCS/DCS Lunch Menu Week Aug. 18- 22Mon. – PizzaTues. – Beef TacosWed – Beef LasagnaThurs. – Chicken Quesadilla
Fri. – Beef Hot Dog |
| Primary Charter |
Primary Art
This week in Beginning Phase, we have been very busy learning how to work in our centers. In Language Arts, we have learned about the letters Bb and Cc, rhyming, reading, and writing. In Math, we have been busy exploring number sense, writing and counting numbers, tens frames exploration, as well as addition! During Science time we are learning about our senses. Ask your student to tell you what they know!
Phase 1 students are proud to have successfully completed the first 2 weeks of school. They are getting better at remembering the rules and following directions. Many students have even been on Gold!! Students in P1 and P8 are busy learning the elements of a paragraph through opinion writing. It is fun to read about all their ideas. They have also been little scientists as they learned all about motion, force, and energy during science. Please encourage your student to keep practicing those math facts!! Look for information to come home soon about picture day.
Phase 2 students had a great week! We learned all about maps, the compass rose, and even did a directional riddle in social studies. We have also started writer’s workshop and discussed traits of good writers. AR goals will be assigned soon, look for them in your child’s folder. Make sure your child is reading every night so they can meet their goal!
Calling all Primary parents! If you would like to help with fundraising this year, we would appreciate it! Please email Mrs. Estes at jestes@tracylc.net if you’re interested. Please include your name, your child’s name, and their room number. Thank you!
DCS 5th/6th
During our second week of school we are seeing students transition between classes with greater ease and we are quite impressed with the way many students are coming prepared daily with supplies and organized, easy to find work. We know that much of this is due to your involvement at home. Thank you for your support.
Aeries:
If you have not received a password for checking grades on Aeries please e-mail Ms. Pelaez (lpelaez@tracylc.net)
Science Camp:
A representative from Science Camp will be here next Wednesday to discuss the Science Camp experience. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions from a Science Camp expert. The meeting will be held in M2 from 5:00-6:00 PM.
Grades:
Students received grades in the Sunday box of their agendas this week.
PHSA 7th and 8th
This is the settling in week. The newness and the reconnection with friends are over and the reality of another year of school is now realized. I have visited each room and have watched how the students are doing. I am impressed with how well the teachers are prepared for the lessons they are delivering and how well the pieces of the afternoon ( shorter classes) are relevant to the core instruction.
I also noticed how difficult it is for students to accept change. We usually assume it is the older person who has difficulty with change, but our eighth graders are not handling new things as well as could be expected. New teachers, new schedule, new format, more structure and more demands seems to be upsetting our returning students. What they need to realize is all change is uncomfortable at first, but we all need to learn how to adjust. We live in fast changing times and if we do not learn how to adapt, we will have a long life of difficulty.
Please help your student, especially eighth graders, realize PHSA was designed as a fore step to high school. The expectations are in line with the future and we are working hard to prepare them for more rigor and higher expectations with a seven period day. The new teachers did not bring the change, they were hired to implement the change. They are doing their part, we need the students to accept the changes and we will all get along!
Back to School night for PHSA is Wednesday, August 20 at 6:00 PM. It is a structured format and is centered on curriculum. It is important to be on time. You will meet your student’s three core teachers. You will hear from each of them what they are teaching, why and what they expect from your student.
| MHS |
What a great second week it was for MHS. We had a terrific back to school night on Wednesday this week and the turnout was terrific. Parents and students seemed to really respond positively to the new format for changing classes and meeting the staff. We also received some great suggestions to make it even better next year. Thanks to our wonderful leadership class for helping out with the event, selling spirit wear, passing our fliers and directing parents to rooms. We began clubs on campus this week and the students were able to sign up for things that peaked their interests. Clubs have always been a big part of the culture of MHS and provide a lot of fun and spirit for students as well as contributing to events at school. Grades for classes should be progressing as all teachers have now entered many grades and it is never to early to check on your student through parent connect to stay on top of them. We had a representative from a U.S. congressional campaign visit our Senior government classes this week and offer the opportunity to our Seniors of an internship working on a political campaign. These kinds of internships look great on college applications and may even spark a future interest in being involved in politics. Picture day for the school is next week and our Senior class was visited by our Photographer and received information about available graduation picture packets and the need to schedule a photo shoot before the deadline in late December. Athletics are in full swing as practices continue and we look forward to the start of the seasons. There is a great opportunity for students to purchase a season pass to all athletic events for $30. This card will then grant you access to any home game for any sport all year. It has been a great start to the year and we as a staff have been very enthused about the way students have begun. Lets keep this spirit all year! Falcon Pride!
Community Service
We are updating the community service board in the Counseling Office every week. There are lots of new activities. Please stop by the counseling office or check the website for updates. If students or parents are unsure of how to get to the Community Service page please go to our website at www.tracylc.net. Then click on the link that shows Millennium High School. After you click on Millennium go to the pull down bar and scroll to Counseling. There you will see in Counseling drop down is the Community Service page.
Counselors visited 9th grade and 10th grade classes this week to discuss the community service process. Make sure to ask your student how they are progressing toward completing their community service hours requirement
6th Grade Science Camp Volunteers needed!!! – Any Junior or Senior interested in being a science camp counselor can attend an informational meeting on Wednesday, August 20th at 5pm in room M-1. Applications are due October 9th
Courage Run – The last day to sign up to work for Courage run is August 22nd. The Courage Run will take place on Saturday, August 30th. Stop by the Counseling office for more information.
Community Services hours are now available to view on Aeries. They are located in the 9th period class. Please not this is not a “real subject matter” class but purely a way for you to view and keep track of your Community Service hours. Please note Community Service hours will be updated weekly by the end of day Friday.
College Info
Classes start the week of August 18th. Students who registered for a Delta college class that was not previously approved on their College Early Start form must complete a change of course form with the Counseling Office. Reimbursements for tuition cannot be approved if students are enrolled in courses not previously approved. For textbook ordering information, please visit www.deltacollege.edu
*** Students can visit the Counseling Office to either advertise their books for sale or to see about purchasing used textbooks
Save the Date!!! September 10th and 11th – 3:00pm – 5:30pm
SAT/PSAT Prep classes through the ZAPS Learning Company will be back by popular demand. Signups are now available at www.zaps.com – Cost is $99 for the two day preparation workshop which includes test prep materials. This workshop is ideal for the senior student to help prepare one last time before the upcoming October 11th SAT test date.
Senior Info
Coming soon! Senior information packets with important information regarding graduation, senior portraits, dates and deadlines will be mailed the last week of August. Information will also be available on our website at www.tracylc.net in the Senior Scoop section of the Counseling/Guidance webpage.
Wed, August 20th is picture day. There is a new and exciting addition this year is that Connie Barding from the Photographic Art Studio will be present to take pictures of all seniors for the yearbook. There is no sitting fee. Families can schedule separate appointments with the studio to schedule personalized photo shoots and order additional packages. More details will be included in the senior packet mailed out in two weeks
***Please note that the Graduation Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 at 10:00am at the St. Bernard’s Holy Family Center***
Other News
Counselors are excited to start this new school wide App called Remind 101. Remind 101 is a safe way for teachers to text message students and stay in touch with parents. We have a different code for each grade level. Counselors will be using this app for updates on community service events, senior email blasts, meetings, and much more!
How to sign up:
Please send a text message 747-233-0994 and enter the code for your grade level in the message box. Remember each grade level has their own code.
Seniors- @07fd0
Juniors-@cb9
Sophomores-@82d7d
Freshmen- @fab05
For other questions please visit their website at https://www.remind.com/.
Expanding Your Horizons Conference – Young Women Grades 6th – 12th
Expanding Your Horizons is a career conference for 6th-12th grade young women. This event will be held on October 4, 2014 at the University of the Pacific, Stockton Campus. For more information or to register for the event please visit www.sjeyh.org.
UNeed2 100 Free Computer Give Away Challenge
The UNeed2 100 Free Computer Give Away Challenge will be held on Saturday, August 23rd from 10am-2pm at the Tracy Community Center. The event will include free lunch, information booths, motivational speakers, school supply giveaways and more. This event is open to all youth. For more information please visit www.uneed2.org or call 209-812-1771.
Build A Computer and Keep It…. For Free
Classes starting soon, sign up today at www.uneed2.org. One computer per house hold and class completion required. Classes and application are available at Eden housing, Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin, Mountain’s Hope CWC, Emeritus at Heritage Place, and HAS of San Joaquin Larch clover Community Center.