Charter Chatter

A weekly newsletter written to parents of the TLC

Dec. 2, 2016                                                                                                                                            Vol.17

Virginia Stewart

Many of you may be considering the high school you wish your student to attend.  This is an important decision.  We would like you to take into consideration Millennium High School.  Millennium is part of the Tracy Learning Center.  The Tracy Learning Center was started in 2001 and now consists of students in three charter schools.  We have a Pre-school, Primary (grades TK to 4^th), Discovery (grades 5 to 8) and our high school.

Millennium High School is a comprehensive high school.  We focus on having students ready for college or vocational training.  Amazing as it may sound 85% of our graduates go on to attend college.  We offer a full complement of sports, drama, band, and rigorous academic classes.  We have chosen not to use the traditional routes of AP or IB classes; instead we allow our students the chance to enroll directly into college classes which are guaranteed transferable to UC or CSU schools.  Many students graduate with more than 15 college credits.

We are very excited to have our very first Father Daughter Dance tomorrow evening. Coach KV and her helpers have been working hard to make this event a success. We are sure this evening will be most enjoyable and a tradition we can carry on for many years to come.

 

 

Misc. Announcements

Crab Feed

SAVE THE DATE:  February 4, 2017 11^TH Annual Tracy Learning Center Crab Feed

What an awesome event for our school! Crab, pasta, salad, bread, dessert, raffles, dancing and so much more.

We are looking for volunteers to assist with our Raffle Committee. If you are creative WE NEED YOU!

Please contact Donna Baker at (209) 321-9157 or email donna@donnabaker.com.

 

As chairperson of this event it’s always important to recognize ROCK STARS!! Tiffany Alexander who runs our raffle committee has already been working hard since August on our amazing donations. We already, have our donation for Disneyland tickets!

  

Winter Break

Dec. 19 – Jan. 2, 2017 – Students and Staff return to school on TUESDAY – Jan. 3, 2017

 

PCS/DCS Lunch Menu  Week Dec. 5 – 9 Mon. –  Pizza Tues. –Beef Hot Dog Wed – No Meat Spaghetti Thurs – Beef Soft Taco Fri. – Chicken Patty Sandwich

 

Pre K

We are making additions to our art studio this month as our preschool students spend December exploring the arts. Our month of creative exploration will begin with a visit from an illustrator who is sharing her artwork and passion with us through a hands on demonstration and bringing pieces of her art to display to our class.

 

Starting in December we are implementing a language immersion program. All of our students will have the opportunity to learn Spanish by participating in our immersive afternoon program. Five days a week children will take part in typical classroom activities with 5 hours of instruction in Spanish daily. Since children are hardwired to learn language we will continue to deliver our program as usual but in the afternoon we will be hablando en español!

 

Our Preschool program is expanding! For the 2017-18 school year we will be adding a half-day preschool program and welcoming 40 new children to our learning family. If you are interested in half-day preschool please contact Alejandra Garcia (209) 229-1575 to schedule and informational tour!

 

T K

This week in TK we celebrated our November birthdays with our final class birthday party! All of our students are now 5 years old! We can already see how much they have matured and grown since the beginning of the year. We implemented a new reward system this week so that students can earn ‘Fun Friday’. We are proud of how hard they are working toward this special goal.

Invitations went home this week for our Holiday Performance. It will be held in the TK classroom on Friday, December 16th at 8:45am. Light refreshments will be served. Lyrics for the songs students are performing were attached to the invitation. Please practice at home. We hope to see you all there!

 

Primary Charter

Morning Tardies

We have had many late PCS students this year. Students are tardy once the Unity Bell has rung (8:13am). If your student arrives at this time or later he/she must come into the office for a tardy note. If a student receives a 4^th or 5^th tardy in a trimester he/she will sit in the office for lunch detention and any further tardies may result in suspension days.  It is important to get our students in the habit of arriving on time and parents are the key to this success.

 

Neighbors Driveways/Complaints

We have had several recent complaints about our TLC drivers who block our neighbors driveways.  These neighbors are very upset when they are unable to pull in or out of their own driveways. Please be respectful and cautious of how you drive and park.

 

MUSIC NOTES

Save the date!    Primary Music Winter Program 

Thursday, December 15, at 6:30 pm, in the TLC gym

All K-4 students will be performing holiday songs with Mrs. Watson.

I have posted the songs on our webpage so if your student wants to practice at home go to:

tracylc.net

The students and I are looking forward to this exciting evening performance!!

More information to follow, as the event nears.

For now, please mark your calendars!

 

Musically,

Mrs. Watson

Primary Music Director

 

 

Initial Phase

This week in Initial Phase students started their first STEM challenge!  Students were placed in Science groups and asked to Plan, Create, Test, and Ask to complete a given challenge.  The challenges were: building a parachute, building a house that does not leak, and build a raft that will float with a given amount of weight.  We are excited to help them become cooperative collaborators to meet a challenge.  Students were so excited to test their plan and we were very excited to watch their progress.  Here are some pictures of us working on our challenges:

 

 

Phase One

Phase 1 students had a terrific first week back from break!  They were pleasantly surprised to find their Elf in their classroom waiting for them.  Each day they will need to find the new hiding place where their Elf is watching them from. What a great turnout we had of students wearing their “Ugly” sweaters.  What a fun way to begin the holiday season.  Over the next few weeks, Phase 1 students will be doing many winter and holiday crafts.  They will also be completing their passport project from their trip around the world to learn about different holiday and cultural traditions. In Writer’s Workshop, students are learning how to write letters.  They are very excited to write letters to Santa. In Math we are learning about Geometry.  Shapes can be fun! New AR Goals have begun.  Continue to read daily and practice math facts.  Make sure to check your student’s folder weekly for important information.

 

 

Phase Two

Phase Two students had a great first week back from Thanksgiving break!  Students were focused and ready to learn.  This week we began our science unit.  We started by learning all about the scientific method.  We will continue our unit next week!

Students did a great job showing their school spirit by wearing their ugly sweaters on Friday!  This was a fun way to end our week!

 

Remember, tomorrow is our first Daddy Daughter Dance!  Hope to see you there!  Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

^{Discovery Charter}

 

 

WE came back from break, like we never left.  Students came to school motivated to learn!!

Each morning we begin unity with the Pledge of Allegiance:

 

 This weeks Top 5 are shown below:

 

 

Each Monday – we congratulate the top 5 den winners (students who earn the “top 5” points in their den).

 

 

 

We also hold raffles……this week, Ms. Zaca and Ms. T donated a “treasure chest” filled with goodies, along with a free “hair and make-up” by Elizabeth – for the Daddy/Daughter Dance.  Congratulations Cynthia for winning the treaure, and thank you Elizabeth for offering your services to our girls before their big night!

 

 

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR CHILD’S AGENDA.  THEIR AGENDA HOLDS DATES, HOMEWORK, PROJECTS, and other valuable information. They will receive a grade sticker in their agenda next week.

If you have questions, concerns, or if you want to discuss your child, please contact their teacher:

Mrs. Beckner: sbeckner@tracylc.net (math and academic pentathlon)

Mrs. Hawkins: shawkins@tracylc.net (language arts (dance and movement with Coach C))

Coach Lopez: blopez@tracylc.net (PE)

Coach P: mpenirian@tracylc.net (PE)

Ms. Pelaez: lpelaez@tracylc.net (science, science Olympiad, (Spanish with Mr. Gomar))

Ms. Rodieck: lrodieck@tracylc.net (language arts, genius hour)

Ms. T: ttakeuchi@tracylc.net (math, leadership)

Coach Williams: dwilliams@tracylc.net (PE)

Ms. Zaca: szaca@tracylc.net (social studies, newspaper)

 

IMPORTANT DATES:

December 14^th – From 5:00 – 6:00 in room M1, Ms. Pelaez will review “how to pack for Science Camp.” More information to come soon.  If you have questions, contact Ms. Pelaez at lpelaez@tracylc.net

December 14^th WINTER CONCERT – Join Mr. Zepeda and his band – grades 6 – 12 at Kimball High School for an evening of magic.  The concert begins at 7:00 PM.

December 19 – January 2 – Winter Break

January 3 – Return to School

January 9 – 13 – Science Camp or Stay Camp (for students not attending Science Camp)

January 16 – School Holiday (Martin Luther King Day)

 

 

 

 

DHSP

 

Discover High School Prep

Charter Chatter:

 

What a great first week back from Thanksgiving!! Everyone came back rested and ready to work!!

 

Language Arts:

This week students have been continuing to grow in their academic writing. They are working very hard to learn how to research and write for persuasive essays using MLA format as well. Students are using evidence from their primary sources and incorporating them into their essays to support their opinions. These skills are advanced for this stage of learning, and they will carry these skills with them into high school and into college. Well done, students of D-12!

 

The next two weeks we are working very hard on our first Writers Workshop! Students are learning the various components of a standard essays and how to support their opinions with evidence. They are doing wonderfully!

 

English 78 is very busy with a project related to the literature, art, music and poetry we have studied first semester.  The students are working on their own study guides for each area of the curriculum.  We have also begun the diagramming of clauses.  Finally for the month of December, we are working in study groups which are also the project groups.  The students are given the last forty minutes of class each day for their work.

 

 

 

Social Studies:

Students are fully engulfed into the Wax Museum process. This year will be the third and final performance for many of Mrs. Wallace’s 8^th students. She is looking forward to some fantastic historical recreations from all of her students!!

 

SWO:

Trimester Two SWO will be introduced in the Language Arts classes soon.

Community service hours for Trimester Two have already begun. Make certain to get your forms signed and turned into Mrs. Dominguez as soon as you reach 10 hours. Remember Community Service counts towards 1/2 of your SWO grade each Trimester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washington D.C. 2017!!!

 

 

It’s not too late to sign up for the DC trip. Students will visit the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery and the Holocaust Museum. What an opportunity to see our nations capital with classmates. It’s exciting to see how many students have already signed up for this great opportunity. Please contact Mrs. Wallace at dwallace@tracylc.net for assistance.

 

If you do not want your student to have his/her photo published please notify Mrs. Wallace at dwallace@tracylc.net

Please feel free to contact any of your student’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns.

Math: Mrs. Dominguez ddominguez@tracylc.net

Math: Mrs. Ulricksen rulricksen@tracylc.net

Language Arts: Ms. Langston alangston@tracylc.net

Language Arts: Mrs. Cerezo acerezo@tracylc.net

Science: Mrs. Ramirez aramirez@tracylc.net

Social Studies, DHSP Learning Director: Mrs. Wallace dwallace@tracylc.net

 

                     

MHS

Charter Chatter December 2, 2016

 

Fall 2016 Finals Schedule – Please note the adjustment to your student’s schedule.

 

Wednesday Dec 7                 ENGLISH                                                SOCIAL STUDIES

 

TEST ROOM and PROCTOR (s) This is where students should go to test	8-10	10-10:30 Break	10:30-12:30
M1 Reyes/Mrs. S	ENGLISH 4 –  Saldate/Reyes Period 1 and 2		WORLD HISTORY – Mr. Singh Period 3
M2 Mr. S /Singh	ENGLISH 2 – Mrs. Saldate Period 5		GOV & ECON– Saldate/Singh Period 1 and 2
M3 Muscarello	ENGLISH 2 – Mrs. Saldate Period 7		WORLD HISTORY – Mr. Singh Period 8
M4 Snyder	ENGLISH 3 – Mrs. Saldate Period 8		OPEN
M5 Tariku	ENGLISH 3 – Ms. Lamanna Period 4		GEOGRAPHY – Mr. Shotwell Period 2
M6 Griffin	ENGLISH 3 – Ms. Lamanna Period 6		GEOGRAPHY – Mr. Shotwell Period 1
M7 Woods	ENGLISH 3 – Ms. Lamanna Period 2		GEOGRAPHY – Mr. Shotwell Period 5
M8 Shotwell	ENGLISH 1 – Mrs. Ernst Period 3		GEOGRAPHY – Mr. Shotwell Period 8
M9 Lamanna	ENGLISH 2 – Ms. Lamanna Period 3		U.S. HISTORY – Mr. Shotwell Period 3
M10 Ernst	ENGLISH 1 – Mrs. Ernst Period 2		GEOGRAPHY – Mr. Saldate Period 6
M11 Dominguez	OPEN		Open
M12 Holmes	ENGLISH 1 – Mrs. Ernst Period 6		Open
M13 Young	ENGLISH 3 – Ms. Lamanna Period 8		WORLD HISTORY – Mr. Singh Period 7
M14 Bengson	ENGLISH 1 – Mrs. Ernst Period 7		U.S. HISTORY – Mr. Shotwell Period 7
M15 Brown	ENGLISH 2 – Mrs. Ernst Period 1		Open
M16 De La Torre	ENGLISH 2 – Mrs. Ernst Period 8		Open

 

 

 

Thursday Dec 8                            MATH                                                     SCIENCE

 

TEST ROOM and PROCTOR (s) This is where students should go to test	8-10	10-10:30 Break	10:30-12:30
M1 Reyes/Mrs. S	PRE CALCULUS – Mrs. Bengson Periods 3, 6, and 8		FORENSIC SCIENCE Ms. Dominguez Periods 2 & 3
M2 Mr. S/Singh	INTRO TO ALG – Mrs. Aleman Periods 4,6,7,and 8		FORENSIC SCIENCE Ms. Dominguez Periods 6 & 7
M3 Muscarello	CONCEPTUAL MATH MR. Muscarello Period 8		CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS Ms. Holmes – Period 8
M4 Snyder	ALGEBRA 1 – Mrs. Aleman Period 1		ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY Ms. Holmes – Period 3
M5 Tariku	ALGEBRA 2 – Mr. Tariku Period 6		EARTH SCIENCE Ms. Dominguez – Period 4
M6 Griffin	CALCULUS – Mrs. Griffin Periods 3 and 4		BIOLOGY Mr. Copass – Period 2
M7 Woods	ALGEBRA 2 – Mrs. Bengson Period 1		BIOLOGY Mr. Copass – Period 3
M8 Shotwell	ALGEBRA 1 Mr. Muscarello Period 3 Mr. Tariku Period 8		BIOLOGY Mr. Copass – Period 6
M9 Lamanna	FINANCE MATH Mr. Snell – Period 3		CHEMISTRY Mr. Asfir – Period 5
M10 Ernst	ALGEBRA 2 Mrs. Bengson – Period 4 Mr. Tariku – Period 2		CHEMISTRY Mr. Asfir – Period 6
M11 Dominguez	GEOMETRY Mr. Muscarello  Periods 4 & 8		CHEMISTRY Mr. Asfir – Period 1
M12 Holmes	CONCEPTUAL MATH Ms. Holmes – Period 2		CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS Ms. Holmes – Period 1
M13 Young	ALGEBRA 2 Mr. Tariku – Period 3		BIOLOGY Mr. Copass – Period 1
M14 Bengson	GEOMETRY Mr. Muscarello – Period 1		BIOLOGY Mr. Copass – Period 7
M15 Brown	GEOMETRY Mr. Muscarello – Period 6		CHEMISTRY Mr. Asfir – Period 8
M16 De La Torre	ALGEBRA 1 Mrs. Aleman – Period 2		BIOLOGY Mr. Copass – Period 4

Friday Dec 9                  LANGUAGES                                LIFE SKILLS/MAKE UP TESTS

 

TEST ROOM and PROCTOR (s) This is where students should go to test	8-10	10-10:30 Break	10:30-12:30
M1 Reyes/Mrs. S	LIFE SKILLS Mrs. Saldate – Period 6		MAKE UP TESTS – STUDENTS WILL REPORT TO THEIR OWN TEACHER FOR ANY TEST THEY HAVE MISSED
M2 Mr.S Singh	LIFE SKILLS         Mrs. Grant – Period 2		STAFF SHOULD GRADE FINALS AND PREP FOR THE BEGINNING OF SEMESTER 2 THE FOLLOWING MONDAY
M3 Muscarello	LIFE SKILLS Mrs. Grant – Period 3
M4 Snyder	OPEN
M5 Tariku	LIFE SKILLS Mrs. Grant Period 4
M6 Griffin	OPEN
M7 Woods	LIFE SKILLS Mr. Woods – Period 1
M8 Shotwell	OPEN
M9 Lamanna	OPEN
M10 Ernst	OPEN
M11 Dominguez	OPEN
M12 Holmes	OPEN
M13 Young	OPEN
M14 Bengson	OPEN
M15 Brown	LIFE SKILLS Ms. Fields-Brown – Period 8
M16 De La Torre	OPEN

 

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 the student portal on each individual college’s 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!

 

Sow a Seed Foundation – Boys to Men Youth Development Conference

Sow A Seed Community Foundation welcomes our esteemed Keynote, Mr. Keena Turner, to the 2016 Boys-to-Men Youth Development Conference. The purpose of Boys-to-Men is to allow successful men, many who have overcome obstacles on their way to success, to address issues of concern for young men in a safe, gender specific environment. This year’s theme, “Hope and Achieve: Against the Odds” is designed enhance the resiliency of our young men by giving the insight on how to enhance their personal strengths and maximize opportunities for personal growth. The conference format includes a keynote and guest speakers, several workshops, catered lunch from Texas Roadhouse, souvenirs, and edutainment. Sample workshop topics include: overcoming life challenges, issues of masculinity, healthy relationships, self-image, leadership, goal attainment, and more. Registration will close on December 2nd!

 

 Community Service Opportunities

Snack Club Program at TK Site – Mon-Friday 3:30pm-4:30pm at the Tracy Learning Center TK Site (238 West Grant Line Rd). High school students are needed to help with snack club program Contact: Mrs. Tyler styler@tracylc.net

 

Tracy Little League – Sunday, December 4 from 10am-2pm (10476 W Linne Road Tracy 95377) Students are needed to help go through and inventory the baseball equipment. This event will take place outside so please dress appropriately. Volunteers meet at the Country Market Store to walk to the storage container. Contact: Kerry Dowell keri_dowell@yahoo.com

 

Moose GALA dinner (fancy Christmas party) – Friday, December 9  5:30 p.m. – until ? (serving begins at 6 p.m.) Moose Lodge (35 East 6th Street, Tracy) – ring doorbell to enter facility 2 dish washers and 6 servers are needed – black and white server attire Contact: Alex Zamora 209-815-6408 or azamora@pacbell.net  MUST contact Alex Zamora for scheduling