Charter Chatter
A weekly newsletter written to parents of the Tracy Learning Center
Apr. 24, 2015 No.32
| Virginia’s Voice |
This is always a very busy time of year. The high school is closing in on the last three weeks of their regular school year before finals and graduation. The competition fever is coming to a head in PHSA and DCS with the two Pentathlons. Math and Science tournaments are finished and State testing is starting. Many times, this time of year brings stress and worry. Parents become concerned about who will be the teacher or the group my child will be with next year etc. Please be assured that we work diligently to place every student in the best learning group possible. We want every student to progress and develop and we know that is only possible if each student is addressed and at the appropriate level of instruction.
We will always strive to help each student develop their full potential and will provide the appropriate level of instruction that allows for success and for challenges that are not overwhelming.
On another note:
We have opened the window for applications for our TK and PreK program. Applications for both are available on line and are due by May 15. We are very excited about the start of these programs. The response from parents has been great.
| Misc. Announcements |
Upcoming Band Performance
Groups involved: 7th and 8th Grade Concert Band and 9th through 12th Grade Concert Band
Where: Kimball High School in the Theater
Event: Tracy Learning Center Spring Concert
When: 7:00 pm on Thursday May 14, 2015
Admission: $5 for Adults $3 Children/Students free to 10 yrs and younger
If you need any other information please let me know.
Thank you,
Roland Zepeda
rzepeda@tracylc.net
The sun is out and it is time to shine up the cars and break out the BBQ. TLC’s 2nd annual Rib and Chili Cook Off and Car Show will be Saturday May 9th. More info to follow but if you are interested in competing in the cook off please email Coach ‘B’ at: sbalsamo@tracylc.net
For information and entry form to the car show and corral please go to :tracylc.net/carshow. Sign up NOW! Spaces still available.
It will be a great day of cars, music, vendors, food and fun!! Come out and support MHS Athletics.
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.
PCS Spring Picture Day and 8th Grade Promotion Picture Day
Parents, please send all packets back to your student’s teacher by next Friday, Apr. 24, 2015. Send either the packets with the returned pictures or the packet with payment for pictures purchased. Thank you!
| PCS/DCS Lunch Menu Week Apr. 27 – May 1Mon. – Pizza
Tues. – Beef or Cheese Lasagna Wed – Chicken Taquitoes Thurs. – Beef or Cheese Nachoes Fri. – Beef or Vegi Burger |
Primary Charter
This week in Initial Phase students were busy learning about force and motion. Many experimented with marshmallow shooters, marbles, and toy cars. This was a fun and interactive way to experience and discuss how force (and even friction) can impact motion of various objects. As the weather continues to get warmer, please send your student with a water bottle labeled with their name. Have a safe and fun weekend.
Phase 1 had a fun week of learning! The students compared living and non-living things by characteristics. They learned a fun acronym to help them remember the 7 characteristics of living things and it is Mrs Nerg. Ask your child if they can tell you what it stands for. The students also discussed all the different habitats and the different types of animals that live in each habitat. In writers workshop the students are continuing to work on their biographies. They are doing an amazing job and the teachers are so proud of them! The students are enjoying watch our classroom caterpillars and ladybugs grow. All of the caterpillars have formed their chrysalides and have been moved to their habitat net where they will become butterflies. Congratulations to Shiven Reddy and Yohannah Arroyo from P1 and Kyle Ardenyi and Roxie Burns from P8 for being chosen for this month’s SWO of the Month, which was Polite Citizens! Great job!
Phase 2 students continued their study of the gold rush. We learned about different ethnic groups during the gold rush and we have some very fun projects coming up. We are also working on researching and writing reports. Some groups are completing online research for their expository reports and are developing very good research and writing skills. Please note that phase 2 will have a field trip in June and information will be coming home in May. If you are interested in being a chaperone, please make sure you are cleared in the office first. This does not guarantee you a chaperone spot but it ensure that if you DO get picked, you are cleared to go and do not have to wait to get cleared. Thank you!
Discovery Charter
YEARBOOK TIME!!
The time has come to order your DCS-PHSA yearbook. Order forms are available in the front office and will be going out to the homerooms next. The form can also be downloaded in the link below. Simply complete the form and bring it in with a check or credit/debit card to the front office. Hardcover yearbooks are just $35 this year with dedication pages available for an addition $15. Don’t miss out on your chance to capture the memories.
_________________________________________________________________________
TRACY LEARNING CENTER
Pre High School Academy
51 E. Beverly Place, Tracy, CA 95376
(209) 831-5240 Fax (209) 831-5243
April 27, 2015
To the Parents of Students in Grades 5, 6 and 7,
This is the time of the year when we all start wondering what mathematics classes will be offered next year. We start by giving our sixth and seventh graders a placement test consisting of skills from grades five, six, Pre-Algebra and Algebra. For those students already in Algebra, we give them the Algebra 2 readiness test. The purpose of these tests allows us to better place the students and tells us how many of what class we need. It is always our goal to meet the needs of the students.
We are planning on offering the following classes next year at PHSA:
- ONE Algebra 2 class
- Algebra 1
- Intro to Algebra
- Math Applications
- Math Essentials if needed
What we will not know is how many of each class we will teach, until the results of the placement tests are tabulated. We have also taken a different approach, in connection with Millennium High School. We offer Algebra 2 immediately after Algebra 1. The students do not “lose” any of their Algebra knowledge and there is not wasted time in Algebra 2 remediating the Algebra skills. We have also found that most students are more conceptually ready for Geometry when they are older.
In grades five and six there will be an Algebra/Intro to Geometry class offered for those students who are ready for that challenge. Appropriate classes in fifth and sixth grade skills will be taught as well as any remediation levels needed.
I hope this letter lessens any concerns that parents may have. If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me, lking@tracylc.net
Sincerely,
Leslie King
TDAP Vaccine
A required by California law (Health and Safety Code 120325 – 120375), parents need to provide proof of a Tdap vaccine. All students entering 7th – 12th grades in the coming school year must have proof of a Tdap booster shot. Documentation must state the shot was given on or after their 7th birthday. This means ALL current 6th – 11th graders must get up to date NOW.
It is important that you begin now, to ensure your child get their vaccination and to avoid appointment delays.
Getting them up to date now, will not only protect them against Pertussis but also ensure class placement and prevent exclusion from school this school in the coming year.
Remember to ask your physician about other vaccines your child may need, and bring your child’s yellow immunization card to the visit. Please return a copy of ALL up to date immunizations to school prior to the beginning of the next year school year.
Smarter Balanced State Testing
In the beginning of May, we start administering the Smarter Balanced Computer Based Test in DCS. Below is a breakdown of the testing schedule for each subject area. It isvery important that students attend their full school day, as we are testing during core classes, not just in the morning.
Since we are running multiple computer tests at one time, we are asking that your child turn off their electronic devices completely during the school day to save bandwidth. We want to avoid as many technical issues as possible with our internet. Please help make sure your child brings a book (no e-books) to school each day on testing days.
If you have any further questions or concerns for a specific content area, please e-mail the teacher of that subject.
We hope to work together to make this a successful testing experience for everyone.
Testing Schedule:
| PE | Monday, May 4th to Friday, May 8th (please make sure students have appropriate PE clothes for class each day) |
||
| MATH | Monday, May 4th | Tuesday, May 5th | Wednesday, May 6th |
| LA | Monday, May 11th | Tuesday, May 12th | Wednesday, May 13th |
| SCIENCE | Friday, May 22th | ||
| *Math Placement Test | Thursday, May 14th *All students in DCS will take a Math Placement Test to see which skills and concepts they have mastered and which level they will be placed in for the 2015-2016 school year. |
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PHSA Weekly News
ATTENTION 8TH GRADE PARENTS
A promotion planning meeting will be held Wednesday, May 6th at 4:15 in D-9, Mrs. King’s room.
We will be putting together committees to work on the events that surround promotion:
Cosmic Bowling: Friday, June 19th
Promotion Ceremony Decorating, Thursday, June 25th
Great America Goodie Bags: Friday, June 26th
If you are not able to attend the meeting, but want to help, please contact Mrs. King at
lking@tracylc.net
PHSA introduced SWO #3 this week, this is the last SWO of the school year and 8th grade promotion is quickly approaching. Please remember, in order for 8th graders to participate in promotion and the various end of the year activities, they must pass this SWO.
Academic Pentathlon will take place this Saturday, May 2nd. We are asking all parents with students in Pentathlon to make sure they arrive at East Union High School in Manteca promptly at 7:15 am. Our 7th and 8th grade team has been working diligently and we are confident that they are going to do very well at the competition. If you have further questions about Academic Pentathlon please feel free to contact Mrs. King or Mrs. Saldana.
Starting May 11th, PHSA will begin State Testing. The Language Arts state test will take place the week of May 11th and the Math state test will take place the week of May 18th. It is very important that parents try their best not to schedule any type of appointments or vacations during this time and that all students arrive on time to class each day so that they have all of the time they need to complete their test successfully. If you have further questions regarding this test please make an appointment with one of the PHSA teachers and we would be more than happy to assist you.
Band Spring Performances will take place on Thursday May 14th at Kimball High School Theater. Students should arrive dressed at 6:15pm. The Actual concert begins at 7:00pm. If you have further questions regarding this performance please see the Band instructor Mr. Zepeda.
| MHS |
MHS Charter Chatter April 22, 2015
Attention Sophomores and Juniors: Interested in developing your leadership skills and learning about public policy? Then apply to the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project taking place this July, at no cost to you and your family! You could spend one week at Sac State University for the Sacramento Leadership Conference, or 3 days in Fresno for the San Joaquin Valley Institute. Come get more information at the Counseling Office, or at this website: http://clylp.org/programs/high-school-program-application/. The deadline to apply for both programs is May 6, 2015 at 12:00 noon.
College Early Start Program – Summer and Fall Enrollment for Delta
Parents of students who are interested in taking classes at Delta College for the Summer semester need to carefully read the important steps listed on the website athttp://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.**
WACAC College Fair and ITT Tech Field Trip
Attention students’ grades 10th and 11th. You will have the opportunity to be visiting the University of the Pacific for the WACAC College Fair and ITT Technical Institute on Monday, May 4th, 2015. The cost of the field trip is $18.00. Students will be eating lunch at UOP. Please make sure your student brings at least $10.00 to purchase food or a bag lunch of their own. IMPORTANT REMINDER: If your student is participating in any extracurricular activities such as sports, please make sure that the field trip schedule does not conflict with it. Current grades and attendance records will be reviewed before registering for this field trip. Students must maintain passing grades of C or better in all their classes, have no referrals and have good attendance in order to attend this field trip. Students will be given tours of both campuses and will gain valuable information about campus life, student services, and campus departments as well as visit the WACAC College fair where multiple college campuses will be represented.
San Joaquin Delta College – Will host an AB 540 Awareness Seminar at the South Campus in Maountain House on Tuesday, April 28th from 5:30pm-8:00pm in room 408. The program will include AB 540 Overview, CA Dream Act Application Overview and resources for Undocumented Students. All are welcomed. No RSVP required. For more information please call 209-954-5151 ext. 6144 or email outreach@deltacollege.edu
Community Service
Grand Foundation Opportunity– The Grand Foundation is a non-profit partner of the Grand Theatre has an ongoing community service opportunity that needs to be filled immediately. Job duties include typing accuracy for data entry, research to collect data from the Internet, telephone and other miscellaneous office work. Students who are interested in marketing, promoting, advertising and communication through social media are ideal. Time needed is a minimum of 4 hours per week but not to exceed 8 hours per week. Please contact Ms. Arganbright in the counseling office for more information.
Tracy Historical Museum Tracy Press Photo Project– The Tracy Historical Museum has an ongoing community service opportunity. This project is ideal for any student who is interested in photography, digital artwork, computers and tech. The ideal candidate will be detail oriented and must be able to commit to volunteering on an ongoing basis. The project will included converting negative film into digital files, cataloging the photos, color correcting and digitally editing photos in photoshop. No experience necessary. All volunteers will be taught how to use the equipment and programs. If interested please contact Ms. Arganbright in the counseling office or stop by the Tracy Historical Museum on Saturday.
Snack Club is in need of volunteers in the afternoon. If you are interested please see Cindy in the kitchen or go to the counseling office for a snack club volunteer form.
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.
Congratulations to the following students on their acceptance to the following Colleges and Universities:
UC Riverside
Ajay Chilukuri
UC Merced
Ajay Chilukuri
University of the Pacific
Ajay Chilukuri
Cinta Aveda Institute
Briana Vargas
UC Davis
Serena Cho
Sonoma State University
Serena Cho
University of Washington
Serena Cho
University of Hawaii at Monoa
Madeline Metzger
US Marine Corps
Angela Harry
Seattle Pacific University
Ryan Jackson
CSU: Stanislaus
Julissa Almanza
Bethany College
Carlos Martinez
Azusa Pacific University
Emily Aronna
The University of Tampa
Emily Aronna
Southeastern University
Emily Aronna
