Charter Chatter

A weekly newsletter written to parents of the Tracy Learning Center

 

Sept. 5, 2014                                                                                               No.5

Virginia Stewart
	Virginia’s Voice   Between 2010 and 2013, 15 of 16 independent studies found that students attending public charter schools do better academically than their traditional public school peers. For example, one study by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University found that public charter schools do a better job teaching low income students, minority students, and students who are still learning English than traditional public schools. Separate studies by the Center on Reinventing Public Education and Mathematica Policy Research have found that public charter school students are more likely to graduate from high school, go on to college, stay in college and have higher earnings in early adulthood.    We know here at Tracy Learning Center, students perform better than surrounding schools.  We are proud of our accomplishments with students at all levels of the learning spectrum.  We personalize learning by grouping students so that they are working at the appropriate level of instruction for success.  This means that students are able to progress because they are learning what they need to know to proceed.    Our classrooms are interactive and student centered.  Students are expected to participate and be a part of the learning process.  When students are involved learning improves as well.     .

 

 

 

Misc. Announcements

 Your feedback is important to us…

TLC is looking for your input.  We have posted a survey for and are hoping you will take a moment to answer a few questions.  If you include your email in the final question, you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card in appreciation of your time.

*TLC Parent Survey*

 

 

EScrip and Target Red Card Benefits

Thanks to parents, teachers and other supporters in our Community, our school has benefitted from the Target Take Charge of Education Program. Just this week Target awarded our school a check for $877.01. To learn more about this program and how to engage additional support visit Target.com/TCOE

We appreciate the efforts of our parent, Jeanette Oliveri, who facilitates this ongoing fundraiser.

 

 

THE 2014 ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE

 

School is your first and most important job. Attend every day so that you can learn what you need to achieve your goals.

 

This September, University of the Pacific and our community partners are celebrating Attendance Awareness Month with the Every Day Counts Attendance Challenge. Here’s how it works:

We challenge you to build a habit of good attendance by coming to school on time every day, starting with the month of September. Students who have perfect attendance for the whole month will be entered into a drawing for prizes including Kindle E-readers, gift cards, tickets to Pacific athletic events and more. If you win, your school will be notified by October 10.

 

We hope you’ll participate by coming to school every day because Every Day Counts! Our counseling department will keep record of all students who have perfect attendance and submit them for this exciting and rewarding challenge.

 

 

 

PCS/DCS Lunch Menu Week  Sept. 8-12 Mon. –   Pizza Tues. – Chicken Corn Dog Wed  Chicken Taquitos Thurs. – Beef Meatball Sandwich Fri. –  Hamburger

 

 

Primary Charter

 

Attention all Primary parents:

We have started the Mixed Bags Designs Fundraiser! Your child brought home a catalog and information sheet today in their green folder.  The fundraiser will run from today until Sept. 22nd.  Thank you for supporting PCS!

 

This week in Initial Phase students participated, for the first time, in Minute To Win It at Unity!  This was a fun and exhilarating way to start our day.  We cannot wait for next week so we can do it again! 

Our new SWO this month is Productive Worker.  Many students are well on their way to earning their purple bracelet.  We work hard everyday helping students learn what a productive worker looks like, sounds like, and acts like.  Ask your student if they have been caught being a productive worker!  

 

This week was a special week in Primary! We had our first “Minute to Win it” of the year and our Student Council elections. For minute to win it, the students had to pull all the tissues out of the tissue box the fastest. They had a blast and look forward to next week’s “Minute to Win it!” On Tuesday, all the students that were running for student council had their posters hung up in the lunch area, for all of the school to see. On Wednesday, the students were given the chance vote for those that were running. The students chosen were announced at unity today. Congratulations to all the students chosen!

The students in Phase one have been working really hard and learning a lot! In Language Arts, they are learning about parts of speech and story element.s In Math, they are learning about place value, expanded form and written form. They are even learning how to tell time! For Science this week, they learned about gravity and did several experiments and activities on what gravity is and how it affects us on earth.  Next week the students will be learning about vibrations and each student will need a shoe box for an experiment, so please bring those in by Wednesday, September 10, 2014.

 

What a great week for Phase 2!  We voted for our student council representative and admired their hard work on their campaign posters.  We know we will have an amazing student council this year!  This week also brought the return of Minute to Win It Wednesdays.  All classes got to participate in a fun game and cheer each other on.  We also learned about San Joaquin county this week.  We are looking forward to learning more about California in the coming weeks. 

Reminder to all parents: Please remember that no parents should be coming through the front gate in the morning unless you are dropping off snack.  It is for the safety of our students and we appreciate your cooperation.  If you’d like to stay and watch Unity, please enter through the front gate when the students are lined up.  Thank you!

 

DCS 5^th/6^th

 

 

Star Student:

Congratulations to Lilly McMahon for receiving the Star Student award this week! We appreciate Lilly for her positive attitude and friendly spirit. Lilly always gives her best effort and demonstrates true respect for others. Lilly has been an excellent role model for our fifth grade students.

 

Science Camp:

Our next Science Camp meeting is on Wednesday, September 10th. This meeting serves the purpose of clarifying requirements for registration, distributing forms, and discussing the option to stay at school. Registration forms will be available the following day at school for any families who are unable to attend the meeting.

 

New DCS Spirit Wear:

 2014-2015 DCS T-shirts are now available for purchase at a price of $15.  They are available in sizes Youth Large through Adult Large. Shirts are a 50/50 cotton blend heather gray with screen print graphic on the front. To purchase a shirt have your child submit an order form to Ms. T.

 

Fundraising:

 Ms. Rodieck is looking for creative fundraising ideas. Effective fundraising can help us provide supplies for academic enrichment and funds for activities like field trips and dances. If you have an idea to share please e-mail Ms. Rodieck (lrodieck@tracylc.net)

 

 

 

 

 

PHSA 7^th and 8^th

 

 

PHSA has completed the nominations and acceptance of the leadership student team for this year.  The students had criteria for acceptance which included grades and behavior based on oranges in the agenda.  Mr. Warmerdam is the advisor and he plans to have our students take a significant role in PHSA this year.  PHSA will be teaming up with MHS for the shoe drive.  They will be planning the float for homecoming and they are considering dates for the first dance. 

 

The students have completed the first month of school and the tallies are in for oranges and greens for the month. Most students managed to have a successful green month.  These students will be included in a raffle for gift cards soon.

Math placement is always in need of fine tuning  After a month of learning the strengths of our students we are fine tuning the two high groups.  Mrs. King has sent a letter to parents and students involved in a refinement of the high math groups.  Both groups will remain high groups, one group will move at a faster pace.  This has affected Language Arts as well.  The two high language arts groups are using the same books and curriculum, so the switch from one teacher to another to accommodate math is not a change in level or curriculum, just the teacher.  Thank  you for your understanding and support of this change.

 

 

 

MHS

 

It has been a busy week at Millennium as our Athletic programs have begun. The MHS boys soccer team got off to a great start beating West High 3-0 in their opener. Today our football team leaves for their first game of the season and will be followed by a spirit bus of Falcon fans that are making the road trip to cheer them on against their first opponents. We have also had a great opportunity presented by our Band Director Mr. Zepeda to create the first drum line, color guard and drum major positions at MHS. There is no previous experience required for these spots in the band so anyone interested should see Mr. Zepeda for more details. In Mr. Saldate’s Government classes Seniors were presented with an opportunity to earn $165 by working at the voting polls in November. Sign up sheets are available until September 17 and then I have to fax them to Sacramento. Anyone who signs up is guaranteed a spot at a polling place near their place of residence. As the year progresses we are getting much closer to the midterm exams and the end of the first quarter. Students should be studying and making sure they are completing all assignments for the best possible grade in all their classes. Homecoming is just around the corner and there are also many community service opportunities available right now at the counseling office. It has been a great start to our year and we are so excited about what the rest of the year will hold. 

Mr. Saldate 

 

This week we the Junior Career Education class went over the results of the ASVAB test and had Sergeant Alcantar from the National Guard as a speaker in class. Millennium High School would like to thank both our speaker and other military representatives present for the ASVAB evaluation for taking the time to visit our school. If you or anyone you know has an interesting job and would be willing to be a speaker for the class please contact Ms. A in the counseling office at 209-627-8299 or at sarganbright@tracylc.net.

 

Community Service Block M Program

The Tracy Breakfast Lions Club has agreed to sponsor the community service Block M program and it is making its debut on the MHS campus this year. This program is a great opportunity for those students who go above and beyond in the community and who would like another opportunity to earn a Block Letter. To qualify for the program the graduation requirement of 200 hours must be completed. This program is in addition to not in conjunction with our graduation requirement. Anyone interested in the program can visit the counseling office or clink the link below for more information. http://tracylc.net/community-service.html

 

Snack Club Community Service Opportunity

There is currently a great opportunity after school to earn some community service hours. Volunteers are needed from 4pm to 6pm daily. Anyone interested in volunteering for the After School Snack Club will need to stop by the counseling office for an On Campus Volunteer Application.

 

Student Tutors Community Service Volunteers

Student tutors are needed to assist with Homework Support. Any students interested in volunteering please pick up an application from Mrs. Saldate or the Counseling Office.

 

College Info

Last week to register!!! 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 or students working to prep for the PSAT.

 

PSAT Sign Ups Now Open!!!!

The PSAT will take place on Saturday, October 18^th, from 7:30am to 11:30am in rooms M-1 and M-2. The cost is only $15.00. Space is limited so sign up early. Please keep in mind that students from any high school can sign up for the PSAT at MHS. Registration will be taken in the Counseling Office. Please bring payment when you register open to 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grades.

 

Scholarship Opportunity with FIDM

Any junior or senior who is interested in leadership, fashion, and scholarship opportunities, please contact the Counseling Office.  A representative from FIDM would like to assist the students of Millennium in acquiring $6,000+ in scholarship.  Last year, 3 co-presidents of Fashion Club at Sierra HS in Manteca all received $6,000 each minimum in scholarship funding.