Charter Chatter
A weekly newsletter written to parents of the Tracy Learning Center
Feb. 26, 2015 No.27
Virginia’s Voice
Each year the Tracy Unified District sends a team of administrators and teachers to our schools to review our program and to ensure as the sponsoring agency that we are doing all the things we have outlined in our charter. The team visited this week and had many nice things to say. It is good to have an outsider visit because often we just take some of what we are for granted and we do not realize it is not the norm in all of the schools. Here are some of the compliments they shared:
- Your class sizes are wonderful. The Primary children have an incredible teacher student ratio. The high school class sizes are amazing.
- The band room has an incredible inventory of instruments
- The Primary Art and Music program is exceptional
- Your PE program is filled with great activities at all levels
- The one on one counseling you do with every high school student each year is unheard of but most be very rewarding for you and the parents
- Your teachers are dressed so professionally
- The student body, no matter which school, is so respectful, socially mature, and responsible. It is so noticeable.
- We know that respect and a strong positive culture is not just by luck, your staff must work hard to instill and consistently implement those values.
I am sure there are other things they noticed, but these are the compliments I heard and appreciated. I do think we often take our schools for granted, but it is nice to be appreciated.
| Misc. Announcements |
Stockton Thunder Game March 13, 2015
We have canceled the band performance and fund raiser event on this date.
Illnesses
Just a reminder if your student is ill and unable to attend school please calls Kay Fagundes at (209)831-5240 or email kfagundes@tracylc.net . Students should not return to school until their symptoms subside and he/she is fever-free for at least 24 hrs. We have had so many sick children at school and the majority of these illnesses are highly contagious.
Upcoming Book Faire
Our Spring Scholastic Book Faire will be held in our gym on Wed, March 11th, Thursday, March 12th and Friday, March 13th. Please watch for Flyers with lists of all the wonderful books that will be available in your child’s Friday Folders!
PCS Spring Picture Day and 8th Grade Promotion Picture Day
PCS Spring Picture Day and 8th Grade Promotion Day Picture Day will be on Friday, March 27th. Picture Information will be coming home approximately 2 weeks prior to this date.
| PCS/DCS Lunch Menu Week March 2 – March 6
Mon. – Pizza Tues. – Chicken Taquito Wed – Cheese Ravioli Thurs. – Chicken or Cheese Quesadilla Fri. – Grilled Cheese Sandwich |
Primary Charter
Who wants candy?! Primary students will be selling See’s candy until March 13th. The fundraiser information went home in the green folders today. Please make checks out to Tracy Learning Center. Candy will be ready for pick-up the week of March 23rd. All profits from the fundraiser will go directly back to the PCS classrooms to fulfill their classroom wish lists.
This week in Initial Phase students have learned all about community, community buildings, the compass rose, and even how to give directions using the compass rose! This is all in preparation for our Trimester Two project as well as our field trip to the Stockton Children’s museum where students get to experience many of these community buildings hands on. We are so excited! Remember….. Projects are due on Monday, March 2, 2015. We cannot wait to see what the students did!
This week in Phase 1 the students learned all about Chinese New Year which began last week. They learned that each year is represented by a different animal and this year’s animal is the sheep. They also learned about the history of Chinese New Year and various customs practiced. The students also made their own lanterns. Ask them to tell you some of the customs they learned about. In Writers Workshop the students are continuing to write fantastic poems! They are writing various different poems and the teachers are amazed at how great they are! This morning at unity, our SWO of the month awards were announced and from P1 our winners were Josie Colton and Shawn Saldate and from P8 our winners were Andre Saldate and Nora Coutts. Next week both classes will celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday by wearing their PJs and bringing in their favorite Dr. Seuss book to read to a partner from the other class. The teachers are very excited!
Congratulations to P1 and P7 for earning the ice cream party for raising the most money for the Crab Feed!
Phase 2 classes learned more about electricity and magnetism this week. We did some fun hands-on experiments and learned about conductors, circuits, and static electricity. Be on the lookout for the Trimester 2 Science Fair project to come home very soon! We also picked our Proud Individuals for the month of February. P6 recognized Phebe Grajeda and Collin Credo. P3 presented the award to Joshua Williams and Jurni Jackson. Excellent job!
Don’t forget, Monday is Read Across America Day! All Primary students are welcome to wear their pajamas to school that day. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Discovery Charter
Star Student:
Congratulations to Julio Solares for receiving the Star Student Award for the Week of February 16, 2015. Julio always works hard and is kind and helpful to all those around him. The teachers appreciate his willingness to lend a hand and help anyone who needs help.
Social Studies:
Mrs. Wallace’s first two classes turned in their Wax Museum Boards this week in preparation for their upcoming Evening at the Wax Museum event on March 19th and 20th.
Science:
Science Olympiad is just around the corner. (March 28th) Ms. Pelaez
and all the parent coaches are looking forward to a great competition this year.
Exploration:
Check out the students in Performance Exploration being taught chorography by fellow students!! Fun Stuff!!!
Annual Read Across America Read A Thon
It’s time for our annual Spring Fundraiser.
Students will collect pledges for the number of minutes they can read during Enrichment class (Up to one hour) on Monday, March 2, 2015. Flat donations are also welcome. For every $5.00 collected, students will receive a raffle ticket for a drawing toward a prize!!!!
Have a great weekend!!!
PHSA 7th and 8th
There has been a change in teachers for the remainder of the year. Mrs. King is taking Mrs. Santiago’s place with Mr. Figeroa, a teacher who was working in the high school, for the remainder of the year. We are sorry to lose Mrs. Santiago, but she needs to complete her teaching credential course work in order to be qualified as a teacher for next year.
Mr. Warmerdam – In Social Studies, students are learning about the Fugitive Slave act and the Compromise of 1850. They just completed posters on a variety of abolitionists.
Ms. Barrett – In Science, students are learning about Ionic and Covalent bonds.
Mrs. King and Ms. U’s class – In Algebra I, students just completed a test on solving complex word problems. They are beginning a new unit on Rational Equations and Expressions.
Mrs. Santiago soon to be Mrs. King – In Pre-algebra, students are learning how to divide decimals.
Mrs. Sierra & Mrs. Saldana – In English Language Arts, students have almost completed their 4th novel, Every Soul A Star. They are currently working on understanding figurative language as it is used within the text. Additionally, students are learning how to analyze quotations for Academic Pentathlon.
Weekly Academic Pentathlon meetings are still being held. If you have not yet paid the fee to be a part of Academic Pentathlon, or if you just need additional information, please see Mrs. King
The PHSA boys basketball team played a game against George Kelly and they won 55-31. Congratulations Coach Easterday and the 7/8 Boys Basketball team.
PHSA students are working diligently to complete SWO #2. It will be due March 16th. If you have questions about this assignment please contact the appropriate SWO teacher for your child.
| MHS |
All TLC Schools
Khol’s Cares Scholarship Program
Go to Kholskids.com to nominate a young volunteer ages 6-18 (and not be a high school graduate), who has made a difference in your community. Top winners each receive $10,000 towards higher education. Nominators must be 21 or older.
TLC’s Got Talent Show
Thank you to all of our great and talented performers from this year’s talent show. The show would not have been a success with your hard work. We would also like to thank all of the parents for allowing their children to participate in this year’s event. Here’s to another great show next year!
| Brandon Alexander Grade 10
Kaelan Babon Grade 9 Jacob Brachna-Gonzalez Grade 12 Jeffrey Bradley Grade 11 Elanah Brooks Grade 6 Allison Brown Grade 3 Emma Brown Grade 6 Sierra Brown Grade 10 Daniel Camarena Grade 9 Gabriel Campos Grade 10 Donal Carty Grade 9 Daniela Ceballos Grade 5 Malik Charles Grade 12 Justin Chen Grade 9 Devon Christian Grade 10 Gwyneth Churchill Grade 4 Marianna Contreras Grade 9 Haileigh Davis Grade 8 Joshua Dominguez Grade 9 Andrea Espinoza Grade 12 Elizabeth Flanagan Grade 4 Jared Gallant Grade 9 Ashleigh Garcia Grade 5 Marielle Garcia Grade 9 Derek Harrison Garcia Grade 9 |
Tristan Havens Grade 10
Clara Ho Grade 9 Jacqueline Hurtado Grade 9 Chilam Quach Huynh Grade 5 Gianna Jackson Grade 7 Ryan Jackson Grade 12 Alexis Jimenez Grade 8 Janessa Jimenez Grade 5 Renee Jimenez Grade 4 Komal Khehra Grade 4 Jalen King Grade 9 DeJohn Labat Grade 11 Cody Lavagetto Grade 9 Matthew Leal Grade 12 Nathanial Lee Grade 9 Ashley Lima Grade 9 Cierra Lovelace Grade 6 Jaeden Mah Bishop Grade 9 Kayvon Moshiri Grade 9 Elsa Natarajan Grade 10 Ariel Nunez Grade 4 Loren Pante Grade 5 Edward Perez Grade 9 Simrit Randhawa Grade 5 Azareli Reynoso Grade 12 |
Xitlali Reynoso Grade 5
Victor Rodriguez Jr. Grade 12 Megan Roe Grade 9 Nicole Ruiz Grade 9 Jessica Salas Grade 12 Adrian Santillan Andrino Grade 10 Joshua Satoh Grade 9 Sophia Shyam Grade 10 Andrew Silveira Grade 10 Heidi Solis Grade 9 Kyle Somerville Grade 10 Isabella Sousa Grade 6 Alexander Suguitan Grade 10 Tania Tapia Grade 4 Francisco Villalpando Gonzalez Grade 10 Elijah Williams Grade 10 Jeremiah Williams Grade 9 Desiree Wilson Grade 10 Amy Wise Grade 11 Joyce Zamorano Grade 10 Alyssa Zaragoza Grade 10 Annabell Zepeda Grade 9 Perrillen Zuniga Grade 12 |
MHS Charter Chatter February 27, 2015
Attention current sophomores and Juniors: Join Decision Medicine this summer and explore the exciting world of medicine. Decision Medicine is a 2 week program that introduces students to the field of Medicine through personal mentoring opportunities and site visits with behind-the-scenes access to some of our regional hospitals, clinics and public health centers. Participants are challenged with real world decisions as they explore the many facets of a career as a physician. The program is limited to a small group of 24 participants each year for maximum impact. Throughout the program they will work in various team configurations, including a one-on-one mentoring opportunity with a local physician in their personal practice. This is a highly competitive free program. For more information please visit http://www.decisionmedicine.com/
Pratt Institute – Any juniors or sophomores who are interested in art, design, fashion design, film, photography, writing, or architecture programs, may be interested in Pratt Institute’s residential summer precollege program. The program meets July 6- 31. (Students must be at least 16 to participate by the summer). The precollege program immerses students in an intensive studio experience, where they develop their drawing and painting skills, are introduced to the major of their choice (interior design, industrial design, fashion, etc.) and create a comprehensive art or writing portfolio in preparation for their college admissions application. They earn four college credits that are accepted by Pratt Institute and most art and design colleges and universities with art programs. Applicants to Pratt who participated in the precollege program are given special consideration. Application deadline is April 1, 2015. Please visit http://clicks.gotoextinguisher.com/trkr/?c=1756&g=5706&p=c09a2c435c404673dc096e80ef5286e1&u=bc9d8e95832fc85887edcc1733292e9c&q=&t=1 for more information.
College Info
College bound seniors: The priority deadline to apply for financial aid is Monday, March 2, 2015. Make sure to complete your FAFSA or Dream Act Application by this time to be considered for all forms of financial Aid.
Senior Info
SCHOLARSHIPS: There are many local scholarships available at this time for our college bound seniors. Visit the homepage of the MHS Counseling and select Financial Aid/ Scholarships page at www.tracylc.net or click on http://tracylc.net/financial-aid–scholarships.html for detailed information on where to obtain an application and how to apply for various scholarships.
Other News
Give Every Child A Chance – Tutoring will begin Thursday, February 26th
Tracy Learning Center has been approved as a new site for the strong and expanding tutoring/mentoring program Give Every Child a Chance! They are bringing a homework assistance group tutoring program to our school for 7th through 12th graders. The program is free for students who have a D or an F in any subject, an IEP, or a strong teacher recommendation. Math and Language Arts assistance will take place Monday-Thursday between 4:00-6:00pm in D-13, Mrs. Saldana’s room. For more information about GECAC, please see their website: www.gecac.net. For an application, please contact Ms. Moore at the MHS Counseling Office, or visit http://www.gecac.net/downloadsapplications.html and click “One on One Tutoring Application”. You may write in “Tracy Learning Center” as your site of choice. Turn in applications to Ms. Moore at MHS Counseling.
Give Every Child A Chance Volunteer Opportunity
Give Every Child A Chance is a tutoring/mentoring program that needs volunteer tutors! If you are interested in tutoring 7th-12th grade students here at Tracy Learning Center for two community service hours a week (which can go toward a block letter!)