Charter Chatter
A weekly newsletter written to parents of the TLC
Jan. 29, 2016 No.23
| Virginia’s Voice |
Congratulations to our Discovery Charter, the charter was renewed by the sponsoring district, Tracy Unified for the next five years. It is necessary for charters to rewrite the charter and to update it to current laws and submit it for renewal. The two main reasons for renewal consideration are student performance, and fiscal soundness. Discovery is very strong in both areas.
As we begin to make plans and goals for the new school year, please e-mail me if you have suggestions for improving our schools. We write a document each year called the LCAP which identifies areas for student improvement before we develop the adopted budget for the new school year. We would be happy to hear your suggestions for things we could add, or for things you feel we are doing well that we should continue to do. My e-mail address is vstewart@tacylc.net.
| Misc. Announcements |
Crab Feed Donations
We have not received many donations yet for our upcoming Crab Feed yet. WE are in great need for any “monetary” donations and or gift cards. These donations help make this even a great success. Thank you for your generosity.
Crab Feed
SAVE THE DATE and EARLY HOLIDAY GIFTS: February 6, 2016 10TH Annual Tracy Learning Center Crab Feed
Please contact Donna Baker at (209) 321-9157 or email donna@donnabaker.com.
WINE LOVERS…. I know that many of you love wine and may have an extra bottle from the holiday.
Can you kindly consider donating a bottle of wine to the Crab Feed that will be included with an amazing wine rack.
Please contact Donna Baker at (209) 321-9157 or email donna@donnabaker.com
Next Holidays
Feb. 15, 2016
| PCS/DCS Lunch Menu Week Feb. 4 – 8
Mon. – Pizza Tues. – Taco Tuesday Wed – Chicken Patty Sandwich Thurs. Beef or Bean Tostada Fri. – Chicken Quesadilla
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T K
Primary Charter
Primary Parents: Can you believe we are more than halfway done with the school year?!
Some classes are now running low on supplies and we would appreciate any and all classroom supplies you can donate (glue sticks, student store items, cleaning wipes, Kleenex, etc) Thank you to all of our wonderful classroom volunteers. We appreciate the time you give!
This week in Initial Phase students have been exploring living and non living things. We have taken nature walks, classified, explored on the internet, and even charted some items. This week many students also became authors! We brainstormed characters, settings, problems, and solutions and then they took off and write their own stories. Each day individual students meet one on one with a teacher for a mini writing conference to ensure that students included all necessary parts of a story. We are compiling a classroom library full of their amazing stories so everyone can enjoy their work.
A few reminders: label all clothing, send in healthy lunches, and always check the forecast and dress students accordingly.
Another great learning week in Phase 1! The students are having a great time planning, designing, and developing their very own business. Selling products and services involves a lot of strategies! Next week they are looking forward to presenting their businesses to the other phase 1 classes. Phase 1 students also began writing their pen pal letters. They learned a fun song to help them remember all the parts of a letter. Ask them to sing it to you! We have been keeping track of how many days we have been in school. We do lots of math problems involving that number. We identify place values, solve number puzzles, write it in expanded notation, compare numbers, and so much more.
Phase 2 students are continuing to work on their writing skills. We are doing expository writing with research, narrative writing, poetry, and learning about different writing techniques like writing similes, hyperboles, and idioms. We have some very creative writers! Please make sure your child is always working on math facts! We would love for all 3rd and 4th graders to know their multiplication and division facts fluently with speed and accuracy. Quiz them and let them show off what they know!
Discovery Charter
TDAP Vaccine
Just a reminder it is the law that all incoming 7th graders provide proof of receiving his/her TDAP Vaccine. Please get a jump on this and take your 6th grader in ASAP for this mandatory vaccine.
Friday’s unity was filled with entertainment!!! Our dance class performed this morning, they were sensational as they moved to the beats of their song. Throughout the Exploration time, they have worked together to create the dance. The dance is totally student driven, choreographed, and performed. In addition to the dance, we were entertained by great singers Silvana, Greta, and Lisette.
Dancers from DCS Exploration dance….. Singers sing….Lisette, Greta, and Silvanna
Matthew Kemper, a former student came to visit student students. He held a question and answer session
TIGER POINTS: LAST WEEKS “TOP 5” POINTS FOR EACH TIGER GROUP GO TO:
BENGALS: Loren Ponte (210 points) Matthew Men (210 points) Carrie Weiss (200 points) Carolina Loza (190 points) and Simrit Randhawa (170 points)
MALAYAN: Amrita Kaler (180 points) Chilam Huynh (180 points) Anikha Kemshetti (165 points) Crysuel Cunanan (160 points) Michelle Engen (155 points), Kyle Carlos (155 points), and Paul Coleman (145 points)
SIBERIAN: Austin Chen (235 points), Camden Hatch (235 points), Giovanna Chukwuma (215 points), Gwyneth Churchill (195 points), Mustafa Chaudhry (175 points), Elizabeth Flanagan (175 points)
SUMATRAN: Avneet Sidhu (140 points), Maci Suttle (145 points), Alorian Velasco (115 points), Emily Ng (115 points), Ellie Moffet (115 points), Karina Linarez (115 points), Silvana Vierra (115 points)
CONGRATULATIONS TO A FANTASTIC WEEK!!!
SWO – Students received information on their new SWO project. LIFELONG LEARNER: College Research Project which is due February 19th. This portion of the SWO will be completed individually. Students must prepare a Google Slide presentation or PowerPoint presentation on a state college or university they would like to attend. The presentation will be used during a graded class presentation. The goal is to help students develop a life plan and research information about a future college they hope to attend. Please ask your child for a copy of the rubric.
WE ARE IN NEED OF: Tissues, Clorox Wipes, and Paper Towels. All donations are appreciated!
DHSP
DHSP Charter Chatter:
It certainly was a fast and exciting week! Mrs. U.S Sumatran Den won the first Den Reward with a trip to the Bowling Alley!
Math:
The math classes are doing well. It is exciting to see students grasping these very important concepts. The classes took The Davis Test tis week.
Social Studies:
Students are busy deciding which of four West African Empires to base their spring project on. Lots of excitement is happening in the social Studies room.
The focus is on the Empires of Ghana, Mali, Songhai, and Oyo. Everyone is learning lots of interesting things.
English:
Mrs. Stewart’s class has completed Book One of the Jungle Books and has started a project that is theme related concerning each of the seven short stories included in the first book. The students have also completed the second phase of their SWO. They have identified sources they will use and have developed a Works Cited page with annotations using the MLA format for web sources. The class took take PSAT on January 25. While, Mrs. Stewart realizes they are only in 7th and 8th grade, it is a great time to see how the advanced students will do on the PSAT. They will have at least two more chances to take this test again, The good part is it gives a base for improvement and the students will start getting mail from colleges as a result of this experience.
Exploration:
Leadership
DHSP Winter Ball was January 29th 4:30-6:30
Snacks were served from 4-4:30
There was a Photo booth with photographer and a high school DJ
Dance/Performance
Mrs. Wallace’s performance class did a fantastic job performing the Disco classic, Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees for Unity on Friday.
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
Have a Fantastic Weekend!!!
| MHS |
Charter Chatter January 22, 2016
Mrs. Stewart and the counseling staff have started to meet with students for their annual counseling review. Fast track classes and next year’s schedule will be planned. Only 10th grade parents will be invited for an appointment. Letters detailing the scheduled 10th grade appointment times should have been received earlier in the month. Time is extremely limited and we encourage 10th grade parents to rearrange schedules as necessary to attend their scheduled time.
Give Every Child Chance – 3rd Annual Health Careers Forum
A Health Careers Forum is being organized between the EMP and Doctors Hospital of Manteca for February 8th 2016. The way this event came about was due to the high interested number of students in the health field and not enough job shadow opportunities. HIPPA regulations are very tight and therefore make it difficult for our students to sit in on patient care, visits, etc. PowerPoint presentations, Speakers and flyers will be given to students by professionals in the field. This event is for the first 40 interested students. Recruitment remains focused with the health ROP classes within the high school, but any student that has a great interest in the medical field is welcomed to summit their application. Applications are available from the counseling office.
The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) welcomes highly motivated and talented students to explore Engineering at the college level. The Academy’s intensive, three-week programs combine sophisticated theory with hands-on practical experience in cutting edge technologies. Work with leading faculty, live on Penn’s historic campus, and connect with new friends from around the world. For more information please visit https://esap.seas.upenn.edu/
The California State Summer School for the Arts is a rigorous, preprofessional, month-long training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation and film for talented artists of high school age. CSSSA provides a supportive environment in which students hone acquired skills and explore new techniques and ideas for an intense and exciting learning experience. The California State Summer School for the Arts is a state agency funded through a unique public-private partnership. California residents enrolled in grades nine through twelve may apply to attend CSSSA. The admissions process is highly competitive. (Last session approximately one in three applicants in most departments were accepted). Students invited to the school are named California Arts Scholars. For more information please visit https://www.csssa.org/
COSMOS- California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science
Want to spend a month on a college campus exploring topics in STEM- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics? Application period is from January 19th – February 19th, 2016. Dates for the program are July 10- August 6. For more information please visit www.ucop.edu/cosmos
College Info
College bound seniors: most colleges will be notifying applicants the status of their admission in early Spring by either mail or online via a student portal on the individual college web site. We anticipate hearing about the acceptance letters. All students accepted to a college or university should let the Counselors know as soon as they are notified. Best of luck to all of those who applied!
Free virtual college fair for the Western United States! This fair is scheduled for Jan. 25th-30th. Students can log on any time during this week to get information from many colleges. There is a question and answer section for the students to get answers directly from college reps. Students must go to www.collegefairsonline.com to the students tab to register ASAP and we will send them a reminder e-mail. This service is completely free. Please register as soon as possible and choose the West fair when registering.
San Joaquin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 13th Annual Student Financial Aid and College Awareness Workshop (STUFA) Sunday, January 26, 2016 at the Alex G. Spanos Center at University of the Pacific Services are FREE and include: One on one assistance filling out financial aid forms, Tax preparation assistance and Scholarship information. For more information please call (209) 946-7705 or email: iruiz@pacific.edu visit http://www.icangotocollege.org/events.htm for more information.
Community Service Opportunities
| Organization | When | Where | Duties |
| Primary Homework Club | M-F 3:45pm-4:30pm | Primary | Help tutor students grade K-4 |
| Chamber Gala | January 29th
6pm-10pm |
Tracy Community Center
(950 East Street near E. 10th) |
8 students for the event
Contact: Patricia Palma patiapalma@gmail.com |
| Case For Kids – Princess Tea Party
|
January 31 | The organization has moved to an online registration system for interested students & residents, wishing to get involved in the various opportunities throughout the year. | |
| Crab Feed | Saturday, February 6th, 2016
5pm-11pm |
St Bernard’s Holy Family Center | Servers needed for event
20 volunteers needed Nelia 510-468-6447 |
Attention Junior Girls
Applications for the Distinguished Young Women (DYW) Program are now available. There will be a mandatory parent/student orientation for all participants on February 4th, 2016, 7:00pm at California Advantage Real Estate Located 9TH STREET in Tracy. Applications can be submitted at the orientation. The Distinguished Young Woman program (formerly Junior Miss) Class of 2017 program is scheduled to be held at Banta School on April 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Participants must be a junior in high school this year, graduating in 2017 to be eligible. A minimum 3.0 GPA is recommended. Participants must be a student in Tracy Unified School District or live in the Tracy area. They are permitted to attend school in another town as long as their residence is in Tracy. Participants can potentially win up to $2,500.00 locally and advance to the State program and be eligible for scholarships up to $20,000.00 (DYW of California).
Senior Info
Seniors who need to apply for financial aid for college can get hands on help with the FAFSA (Free application for student aid) and have an opportunity to win a scholarship at our upcoming Cash for College Night on January 27th from 4-7pm at Kimball High School or January 28th from 4-7pm at West High School. We encourage all students and/or parents to attend this interactive workshop. Computers will be available but we encourage students to bring a laptop. For other Cash for College nights in our area, visit www.calgrants.org for a list of workshops.