Charter Chatter
A weekly newsletter written to parents of the Tracy Learning Center
Oct. 17, 2014 No.11
| Virginia Stewart |
Virginia’s Voice
This is the month for Red Ribbon, a time which traditionally is to focus on not using drugs. We at the Tracy Learning Center like to expand this thought and broaden our theme to be appropriate for ages 5 to 17.
This year our theme is THINK! Be Kind! Students will receive a red wrist band with this saying on it. If people do think before they say or do things, it is usually a better outcome. Often when someone says something negative or hurtful to someone that person responds similarly and both people walk away hurt. If all students think about their actions, they can be kind not only to others but to themselves. It takes thoughtful people to create a caring world.
Our greatest desire is to have everyone here at the Tracy Learning Center respect and care for one another. Everyone does not have to be friends, but everyone deserves respect. We all can benefit from the reminder to THINK and BE KIND.
| Misc. Announcements |
All Schools Announcement
Together, TLC Can Make a Difference!
Dear TLC Families,
It’s that time of the year again…students at the Tracy Learning Center can make a difference on “National Make a Difference Day”. As part of a school-wide project, TLC will be participating in a donation project to help the McHenry House of Tracy-Family Shelter. Our goal is to provide much needed household supplies to the seven families awaiting help at the McHenry House. Each grade level is assigned a different household item to donate. Below are the items per grade level and where to drop off donations:
Toilet Paper
– K, 1, 2 – Take to student’s classroom
Cleaning Wipes
– 3, 4 – Take to student’s homeroom
Paper Towels
-DCS – Take to Ms. T’s classroom
Tissue Boxes
-PHSA Take to Mr. Warmerdam’s classroom
House Hold Cleaning Supplies
- Millennium High School
Drop off items the week of October 21st – 25th. 2013.
Thank you for your support!
If you have any questions please contact Ms. Powers at lpowers@tracylc.net
Safety Concerns
We have genuine concern about our Primary Gate in the morning. We have our Primary PE Staff watching the gate making sure students do not leave until the beginning of Unity and at that time the gate is closed and latched. Students who are dropped off after the beginning of Unity run up to the closed gate and wait until someone opens the gate. Many times the person opening the gate end up propping the gate which creates a very unsafe and risky environment for our young students. This gate must be shut and latched form the onset of Unity until dismissal time. We have ordered a new sign to remind parents and visitors to secure our gate and also will post a staff person at the gate until students are in class.
RETURN OF BIG COOKIE THURSDAY!!!
Primary Student Council is bringing back Big Cookie Thursday! Cookies will be for sale during carline every Thursday beginning October 23. They will be 50 cents each! We will have two locations set up for sales: one will be walk-up and one will be ‘cone 5’ for drive up customers. Please try to bring exact change to help with ease and speed of our sales! Thank you for supporting PCS!
Next Holiday is Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, Veteran’s day
| PCS/DCS Lunch Menu Week Oct. 20-24Mon. – Pizza
Tues. – Chicken Quesadilla Wed – Chicken Patti Wednesday Thurs. – No Meat Spaghetti Fri. – Hamburgers |
| Primary Charter |
In Initial Phase this week we are happy to see students who are trying very hard to be Proud Individuals. We have seen students trying their best to use their words instead of their bodies, trying to do their best work, and giving their best effort to follow Primary rules. We are happy that they are taking control of their actions. We will continue this focus for the remainder of the year.
Phase 1 has been learning about continents and oceans in social studies. They have also been writing letters to a pen pal from the other class. Look for the final letter in your child’s Green Folder. The students are continuing to work on parts of speech in Language Arts. They have taken their Star Reading test again and many kids have gone up in reading levels. The teachers love all the reading we are seeing. In math, they are working on counting money, telling time, greater than and less than and place value.
Phase 1’s first field trip of the year is next Wednesday, October 22, 2014. Both P1 and P8 will be going together. The students will be going to the Country Side Farms Pumpkin Patch and will leave school at 9:45 and return before afternoon carline. Please make sure that your student has a brown bag lunch to take with them, no lunch pails or containers please. Remember we want to represent PCS by wearing our spirit wear!
On the field trip, they will get a tour of the farm from the actual workers and learn about how life on the farm is. They will also learn more about the life cycle of a pumpkin, which is what they will be learning about next week for Social Studies/Science. This will be a fun filled learning day, complete with a ride around the farm and best of all, seeing the pumpkin patch!
DCS 5th/6th
Star Student:
Congratulations to Crysuel Cunnan for receiving the Star Student award this week. Crysuel is a deep thinker who is always polite to others. Crysuel follows lessons with true engagement and an intensity that allows her to offer insights beyond the expected curriculum. Teachers feel very fortunate to have her in class.
Fundraising:
We are so impressed by the success some students are having selling raffle tickets for our Science Camp Fundraiser. Thank you for your support as we work to make a trip to camp a possibility for all students.
SWO:
The Personal Awareness SWO projects and scrapbooks were due this week to Ms. Wallace and Ms. Pelaez. We will be starting Cooperative Collaboration SWO very soon.
Science Olympiad:
DCS will be sending two teams to Science Olympiad this year. More than 36 students applied and we were so happy to have the opportunity to involve such a large number. Thank you to the parents who offered to assist students in specializing as an event coach. Parental involvement is certainly needed for the success of our team.
PHSA 7th and 8th
Mrs. King was reflecting on her classes yesterday with me and she said it is wonderful to have these students for her last year. (She is retiring in June.) The students in her math classes are not only achieving excellent grades, they have a great work ethic and they always do all of their assignments. She said it is so rewarding to teach them.
Arthur Mariott, our new learning guide, was hired to support and help students in PHSA who struggle with paying attention or are academically having difficulty. He feels he is making progress. When students are involved and engaged in the class, they stay focused. He is working on helping them avoid getting oranges and to achieve better grades.
PHSA is also very pleased with the parent support we have received when meeting to discuss issues regarding behavior in the classroom. One parent comes to school every morning to observe and help her son in Math. Another father came to school to observe after his son was suspended for difficult behavior. This follow through on the parent’s part is very important and appreciated.
| MHS |
MHS is hosting its 5th Annual Haunted High next Saturday, October 25th from 4pm-10pm. Come out and show your support. The event has attractions for all ages. There will be a kid’s zone which will include a bounce house, bean bag toss and some gruesome carnival games. The adult attraction is the haunted house located in the gym. There will be two versions of the haunted house with he earlier tours geared for a younger crowd (less scary) You can purchase a $5 ticket for a one time trip into the gym and games with range from 1-2 tickets. Food, Face painting and more will also be available. We hope you can make it to help support MHS’s Art Department.
Thank you to the wonderful visitor we had this week in our Career Education classes: Sheri Catalano from Expressions College.
“How To Be An Effective Student” Workshop for Students and Parents
Please join Mrs. Stewart in learning tips and strategies on how to be an effective student in and out of the classroom setting. Open to 9th grade and 12th grade students and parents. Questions? Contact Counseling Office 209-627-8299
When: Thursday, October 23rd from 4:00pm-5:00pm
Where: MHS Room M14 (Across from MHS restrooms)
Community Service
There are a lot of community service opportunities this weekend. Please click the link below to view all of the opportunities. http://tracylc.net/uploads/3/2/6/9/3269718/october__2014.pdf
College Info
PSAT
The PSAT is an affordable and excellent way for students to practice for the SAT exams. We Encourage students to get plenty of rest the night before and eat a well balanced breakfast. The PSAT will take place Saturday, October 18th, from 7:30am to 11:30am in rooms M-1 and M-2. Doors open at 7:30am sharp. Students must arrive on time. No food or drinks will be allowed in the testing room. Results will be given in December.
College Early Start Program – Spring Enrollment for Delta
Parents of students who are interested in taking classes at Delta College for the Spring 2014 semester need to carefully read the important steps listed on the website at http://tracylc.net/college-early-start.html Please remember that students participating in the College Early Start program must follow dates and deadlines and receive prior approval to take college classes while attending high school. TLC provides reimbursement for tuition for those who have prior approval to take specific classes with proof of payment and a successful course completion with a grade of “C” or better. Textbooks and additional fees are not reimbursable.
Letter to Parents: http://tracylc.net/uploads/3/2/6/9/3269718/delta_college_parent_and_student_registration_procedures.pdf
Check List: http://tracylc.net/uploads/3/2/6/9/3269718/delta_college_early_start_procedure_checklist_spring_2015.pdf
Dates and Deadlines: http://tracylc.net/uploads/3/2/6/9/3269718/spring_2015_important_dates_to_know.pdf
Dartmouth
Dartmouth is hosting two events in our area in October. The first is an information session is a presentation from admission staff and alumni and hoe their experiences equipped them to become founders of organizations and to realize their own goals and aspiration. This event will be held Tuesday, October 28th, at 7:00pm at Menlo School located at 50 Valparaiso Ave. in Atherton CA. On Wednesday, October 29th, Dartmouth will host an informational session at Bellarmine College Preparatory located at 850 Elm St. in San Jose. For more information on either of these events or to RSVP please visit http://dartgo.org/ontheroad.
Scholarships
There are three scholarships with deadlines this month. Please stop by the counseling office or check the link for more information. http://tracylc.net/counseling-home.html
United States Air Force Academy Forum
Learn about the US Air Force Academy, Cadet life and the application process. Admissions staff and recent graduates will be available to answer your questions. Saturday, November 8th, 2014 9:00am – 12:00pm Boulder Station Hotel and Casino – Las Vegas, Nevada. Check in will begin at 8:00am.
Other News
T & J Educational Tutoring Annual Fall Festival
The T & J Educational Tutoring Annual Fall Festival will be held Saturday, October 18th at 320 W. 11th Street in Tracy from 11:00am-3:00pm. This is an opportunity to meet their tutors. The first 25 people to attend will receive a free gift.