Charter Chatter
A weekly newsletter written to parents of the TLC
Sept. 25, 2015 No.8
| Virginia Stewart |
Virginia’s Voice
College is on the minds of many of our seniors as they prepare for the end of high school, and it should be. The marketplace is changing and there are many jobs that we have traditionally not even considered. Some do not require a four year degree to initially begin a career. Many jobs begin at an entry level with time for on the job training and advancing in education later as the job is better understood.
Recently both four year colleges and the junior colleges have focused on the idea of reminding students to do what matters for the world and for job satisfaction in life. The colleges have identified a list of the top 10 professional skills, or soft skills that a skills panel conducted with employers, educators, and innovative leaders across the nation. The top skills they identified as essential in today’s work world are:
Adaptability
Analysis/solution mindset
Communication
Collaboration
Entrepreneurial mindset
Self-awareness
Social/diversity awareness
Resilience
Digital fluency
Empathy
I found it interesting to note that our SWOs that are additional work added to our student expectations focus on these skills and help students track their growth in each of these skills.
No matter if a student attends a four year school, a two year college, or on the job training, these skills are essential to success.
| Misc. Announcements |
2015-2016 1st of the year Box Top contest!!!!!
The contest will run through October 1st. The classroom who brings in the largest number of Box Tops will win a special treat!
Picture Re-Take Day
Picture Re-takes for all students is Tuesday, October 13, 2015. Lifetouch will be sending flyers home soon. If you were dissatisfied with your previous pictures of your student from August, please send the entire envelope in on re-take Day.
| PCS/DCS Lunch Menu Week Sept. 28 – Oct. 2
Mon. – Pizza Tues. – Sloppy Joes Wed – Chicken or Cheese Quesadilla Thurs. – Beef Nachos Fri. – Beef Hot Dog |
T K
Happy first week of Fall! The TK students are learning about the four seasons and what happens in the environment as the seasons change. They loved sorting and exploring items that would be used in each season. Using realia (objects from real life) helps students develop a deeper understanding of concepts we are learning, helps them make connections to our learning objectives, and makes topics in school more meaningful to them in their day to day lives. We have a full class of explorers and scientists! Students extended their fall learning by sharing about themselves and creating a fall ‘Tree of Me’. They had so much fun learning about their friends!
Primary Charter
PCS parents: Thank you for your Mixed Bag orders…PCS sold over $5000 for the fundraiser! Wow!
We are still collecting coins for the Red Cross. Thank you to everyone who has already donated.
We are also collecting Box Tops! These really add up for our school. Please send them to school with your child. Thank you!
Initial Phase: At the end of each month each classroom will choose 2 or 3 students to receive a SWO of the month certificate. SWO of the Month certificates are handed out at a special Unity on the last school day of the month. This month three students from P-6 will be
chosen as our Productive Worker of the month. Reminder, read every night and study both present and past sight words.
Phase 1 students enjoyed learning all about Johnny Appleseed this week! In Writer’s Workshop they got to taste test different apples and decide which kind they liked best. This will be the topic of their next opinion writing assignment. Some students even got make applesauce! In Social Studies they learned about different land forms and what makes a community rural, urban, or suburban. We celebrated the first day of fall and talked about what kinds of things we can expect this season. We are looking forward to our first field trip! Please look in your student’s folder for information soon. Please continue to encourage your student to read daily.
Phase 2 students are really impressing us with their hard work in AR! Most students have received their new AR goal. If not, they will receive them soon. We set a new goal for students every six weeks. We also retest their reading level throughout the trimester. We are proud of the growth we are seeing. Remember, read for at least 20 minutes every night!
Discovery Charter
THANK YOU DHSP (Discovery High School Prep 7/8)… On Thursday, DHSP’s Exploration dancers entertained DCS students. The dance was amazing. Then, on Friday, DCS students were invited to walk through art exhibits created by DHSP students. DCS students were impressed with DHSP’s talent.
Anti-Bully Poster Winners – Students who earned the top “Bully Poster Artists” in their classes (5th and 6th) were invited to join Mr. Young, Millennium High School’s Art Teacher. Mr. Young talked discussed scaling a poster from an 8 x 9 to a 16 x 18. Winning students were asked to complete their 16 x 18 Anti Bully Poster by September 29th. Top poster winners will be announced by October 2nd. Top TLC winners will move onto the TUSD contest, those winners will be announced in November.
Science Olympiad meeting….Calling all future scientists! Please plan to attend our Science Olympiad informational meeting on Thursday, October 8, from 5:00 – 6:00 in Room M1. If you have questions, email Ms. Pelaez, lpelaez@tracylc.net.
SPELLING BEE: We had our FORTH Spelling Bee meeting on Thursday. If your child is practicing for the Spelling Bee, please help them at home. Students will continue to study their current word lists, and follow their spelling strategies to learn to spell words. If you have questions, please email shawkins@tracylc.net or lrodieck@tracylc.net.
EVERYDAY COUNTS! This September, University of the Pacific and community partners are celebrating Attendance Awareness Month with an Every Day Counts Attendance Challenge. Any student who comes to school on time, every day in September will be entered into a drawing for prize. Prizes include E-readers, gift cards, tickets to Pacific athletic events, and more. Help your child to have PERFECT ATTENDANCE!!
GRADES: Grades will be updated on September 30th. Contact your child’s teacher if you have questions. Be sure to look for updates every other Wednesday or review the school’s website daily for your child’s grades.
A WINDOW INTO YOUR CHILD’S DAY AT DCS:
Ms. Pelaez’s Science: Students are always excited to walk into science. A day in Ms. Pelaez’s room brings everything from videos to hands-on experiments. This week students reviewed major concepts related to graphing. Students conducted an experiment on how many dots one could create in timed intervals. The results were graphed and discussed.
Ms. Zaca’s Social Studies: Students are learning about early laws. They are beginning to understand how laws came about, and where they have moved to since the beginning of Hammurabi’s law. Students are fascinated by the changes overtime, and have time to discuss and debate fairness in the laws of yesterday compared to today.
Ms. Rodieck’s Language Arts: Block One students began reading The Shark Callers this week. Ask them what they have learned about volcanos. Block Two and Block Three classes will be finishing up their books next week and will have in-class open book finals for the books. Gentle reminder that Book Reports for Ms. Rodieck’s classes are due Wednesday, September 30th.
Mrs. Hawkins’ Language Arts: Students in each class are finishing up novels and projects where they review character traits. Block One Students are learning how to read articles rhetorically. Block Two students are building presentation skills as they act out parts of the book, bringing characters to life as we read. Block Three students are reading articles rhetorically and writing summaries of the articles each week.
Mrs. Beckner’s Math: Block One is studying integers and how they relate to finance and everyday life. Students will connect integers to temperature, stock market, and banking. Block Two is completing fraction concepts and number theory. Ask your child to help you determine sale prices when shopping. Block Three is working on fraction concepts and number theory. We are having a great time using pictures, and working with peers to learn these concepts.
Ms. T’s Math: Students in Algebra 56 (Block one), received results for their Unit 2 test averaging 87.8% and are half-way through Unit 3. Great Job!! Block Two is working on an exciting bakery project, using their knowledge of fractions to create a business plan to include profit margins, budgets, and estimating. Block Three is working on long division operations while collaborating peers.
PE: Students continue their daily PE activities each day. They work on individual skills and as a team.
DCS teachers welcome parent communication, please contact us if you have questions, concerns, or ideas!
Ms. Rodieck – lrodieck@tracylc.net; Ms. Pelaez – lpelaez@tracylc.net; Mrs. Beckner – sbeckner@tracylc.net
Mrs. Hawkins – shawkins@tracylc.net; Ms. Zaca – szaca@tracylc.net; Ms. Takeuchi – ttakeuchi@tracylc.net
Coach Easterday – deasterday@tracylc.net Coach Penirian – mpenirian@tracylc.net Coach Lopez – blopez@tracylc.ne
Ms. T’s students work together to learn math concepts
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DHSP
DHSP Charter Chatter:
Siberian Den won for most school Spirit and they were rewarded with a Menchies yogurt during lunch on Thursday.
Den Points:
Malayan———–17,995
Sumatran———17,490
Siberian———-17,418
Bengal————15,690
Students with highest Den points:
Zaid Mamsa——-280 (Bengal)
Kylie Suttle——-240 (Sumatran)
Paige Faaborg—–235 (Siberian)
Tejas Gill———-230 (Malayan)
English:
Mrs. Stewart’s English 78 has begun the newest of our competitions. Taking the idea from Math Olympiad which she has done for three years with her math class, she is now offering SAT Olympiad for her students. Students will compete in groups using individual averages every Tuesday. The average for the first competition was quite good, out of a possible 12, the winning group scored a 9.8! What the students are learning in English is great preparation for high school and college. That is exactly what Discovery High School Prep is all about.
Math:
Math: Continuing in a vigorous curriculum students are being challenged daily to think outside of the box.
Pre Algebra is continuing with Unit 2: Parts and Wholes. Currently we are converting fractions to decimals to percents. Real life application problems such as test scores.
In Algebra we are finishing up unit one as we detoured and completed a review unit half way through. Currently students are conquering exponents and all of the rules that come with them.
Geometry is wrapping up unit two and so far they are dominating the curriculum. We have a large and independent group that work hard and seem to be enjoying the class a lot this year so far.
Exploration:
Dance Exploration had two well attended performances!!!
Art:
Art: As we wrap up this round in art we are finishing a canvas painting. This project shows a variety of tints and shades of the primary and secondary colors. Such a fun project that has stretched the creativity of each student.
Leadership:
We will need help from parents constructing this float for homecoming. If you own a truck and a flat bed that you would be willing to allow DHSP to use for the parade please contact Mrs. Saldana at asaldana@tracylc.net as soon as possible.
Thank you for your continued support. It is greatly appreciated.
If you do not want your student to have his/her photo published please notify Mrs. Wallace at dwallace@tracylc.net
DHSP teachers welcome parent communication, please contact us if you have questions, concerns, or ideas!
Mrs. U. at rulricksen@tracylc.net Mrs. Dominguez at ddominguez@tracylc.net
Mrs. Saldana at asaldana@tracylc.net Mrs. Sierra at msierra@tracylc.net Mr. Compton at rcompton@tracylc.net Mrs. Wallace at dwallace@tracylc.net
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!!
| MHS |
MHS 1st Quarter Midterms
The first quarter midterms will be held Tuesday, September 29th –Thursday, October 1st. All students were given their midterm schedule last week. Please note that Tuesday-Thursday is 12:30pm early release days. Monday and Friday are regular school days.
Fresno State University and UC Merced Filed Trip for 10th – 12th grade students only.
Millennium High School students’ grades 10th – 12th will be visiting Fresno State University and UC Merced on Monday, October 19th from 7:00am to 4:30pm. Students will be eating lunch at Fresno State. Any student attending the trip will need to bring a sack lunch or money for lunch in the dining hall. The cost of this field trip is $23.00
Youth Advisory Commission Applications
The City of Tracy’s Youth Advisory commission is seeking new commissioners’ grades 9-11. The purpose of the commission is to provide youth with an opportunity to make recommendations to staff, Parks and Community Services Commission, City Council and other groups on matters related to the welfare of youth in Tracy. The commission meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 333 Civic Center Plaza, Conference Room 203. If you are interested please pick up an application from the counseling office or City Hall. Applications are due September 30th.
Community Service Opportunities
HO Train Display at the Tracy Museum: Saturday, September 26th from 9:30am-4:00pm at the Tracy Historical Museum at 1141 Adam Street. Students will help Run the museums HO Train, and assist other museum visitors to operate the Museum HO Train. Work an information booth to give away coloring sheets to children, and sales of publications. Operate a digital projector. Please email Bill Carter as possible if you can commit to volunteering wjabcart@pacbell.net
Chest of Hope Inc. Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 from 10:45am – 2:00pm at Lincoln Park. Volunteers are needed for face painting and other children’s activities
Mountain House Flag Football: Saturday, September 26 at 8:00am-2:00pm. Location: Mountain House at Bethany Park (corner of Legacy and Communidad) or Bethany School (corner of Heritage and Communidad) Responsibilities include: filming games and/or selling concessions at the snack table. Volunteers need to be at least 13 years old. Contact: Andy Su
Coming Soon! 8th Annual Community Service Fair
The community service fair will be held on Thursday, October 8th. Many non-profit organizations will be present to allow students the chance to sign up for volunteer opportunities. All students will have the opportunity to meet representative from these organizations and learn about the volunteer needs throughout the community. If you know of an organization who should be present at the event please send their contact information to Ms. Arganbright in the counseling office. Email: sarganbright@tracylc.net Phone: 209-627-2899
PSAT
The PSAT will be held on Wednesday, October 14th, 2015. The cost is $18.00 which includes study materials and the test itself. The testing day will be on Wednesday, October 14th from 7:30am-12pm in rooms M-1 and M-2. Please sign up in the counseling office. Space is limited so sign up soon. The test fee is due when registering for the test. Once we have reached capacity we will take a short waitlist.
Other News
Save the Date!! College Early Start Program – Spring Enrollment for Delta
Parents of students who are interested in taking classes at Delta College for the Spring 2016 semester need to carefully read the important steps listed on the website at http://millenniumhscounseling.weebly.com/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. The college early start student only informational meeting will be tentatively held on Thursday, October 22nd during lunch.
NUUE Tour
In October 2015, admission officers from our four universities will host a group presentation and then be available for questions during an hour and a half program for you and your family in the San Jose and Berkeley. Please visit www.theNUUEtour.org for more information or to register.
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 10, 2015 at the University of the Pacific, Stockton Campus. For more information or to register for the event please visit www.sjeyh.org.
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