Charter Chatter
A weekly newsletter written to parents of the TLC
Jan.6, 2016 Vol.20
| Virginia’s Voice |
The first week back will be a challenging one with the rain. Please be patient in car line and take your time coming and going to school. Accident are more frequent in this kind of weather.
We are very pleased to be back in school. The break was a good one and a long run and everyone seemed ready to be here.
The high school has begun Semester Two and we will have seniors ready for graduation before we know it. The counselors and I will begin one on one counseling with each student in the high school to develop their FASTTRACK and next year schedule. My how the years go by!
Discovery is doing well. Our 5/6 graders will be involved in away or stay science camp next week. They are doing well with their grades and behavior and have been enthused with their rallies and den points. They have great spirit. Our 7/8 students are becoming more serious and grounded and we have added a new teacher to the team who will take over for science on January 16. This teacher will be introduced by Mrs. Wallace and comes to us with a science credential and lab job experience. This week she spent observing 5/6 science to be sure there is a continuity between the two programs.
Primary is doing well. We have several teachers who are on or will be on maternity leave, so that is a bit disruptive but will be covered by good substitutes. Please be patient with these changes. Those having babies are so excited to add to their families and while they care about their classes and students they want this time to bond with their new additions.
Kindergarteners are growing and maturing and are now acting more like first graders. I read to them once a week and I see such a difference from the start of the year. The team of teachers for P6 are incredible. TK, at Grantline, is wonderful. It is a wonderful program for young fives who are not quite ready for Kindergarten. Once they finish TK, they are ready for our full day kindergarten program here.
And our newest addition, Preschool, is blooming. The children are doing very well in our full day program. The children are engaged in an exciting monthly unit program and are excited about learning and exploring toys and technology. The parent community of preschool is outstanding in their involvement and commitment. Preschool is accepting applications for next year’s enrollment. They are offering a full day or half day program next year.
| Misc. Announcements |
Annual Jog-A-Thon
The jog-a-thon is going school wide this year! With that said, I am in need of more sponsors. If you are a business owner and would like to advertise your company on our race day shirts, please contact me at kvigil@tracylc.net. I will get you more information on how you can become a proud sponsor of this great fundraiser! Thank you in advance for your support!
Crab Feed
TICKETS ARE ON SALE FOR OUR 11TH ANNUAL TRACY LEARNING CENTER CRAB FEED.
Happy New Year! Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy year.
We are just one month away from our 11th Annual Tracy Learning Center Crab Feed.
We look forward to selling this event out again this year.
All you can eat crab, pasta, salad and bread. Dessert auction, silent auction, raffle and dancing.
An evening of yummy food and a great time for $50 per ticket.
You can also reserve a table of 8 for $400.
Please consider donating a gift card, a bottle of wine, a dessert and/or a gift basket.
Remember you can profile your company on our placemat. Business card sized ads are $25.00.
Please contact Donna Baker at (209) 321-9157 or donna@donnabaker.com.
Thanks a bunch and oodles of hugs for making this event so successful!!!!
Purchase Tickets:
Donations:
Pre K
Over the holiday break preschool celebrated the new year by hosting Art & Apple Cider a fun exposition of preschool work done during our study of art, color and shapes. It was a blast!
T K
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 4th or 5th 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.
Phase 1 students had a great first week back from break. Unfortunately the weather kept them stuck inside for much of the day but they have been very flexible. We celebrated Centenarian Day and enjoyed seeing the students dressed as 100 year olds! How fun! Winter is definitely here and we have been tracking the cold temperatures. We are learning how different weather can be. In Writer’s Workshop students wrote out 3 New Year’s Resolutions – one for school, one for home, and one personal one. It looks like we will have some very hard working students! In Social Studies, we are learning about Martin Luther King Jr. and the accomplishments and contributions he has made. We talked about life then and now and even compared white eggs to brown eggs. Ask your student what that means! Please encourage your student to keep working toward their AR goal and to read every day. Continue to practice those math facts. Don’t forget, Wednesday, January 11th is the 100th day of school. Help your student to create a necklace with 100 items to wear to school on that day.
Phase 2 students are starting their unit on weather. Also, each group started reading a new book this week. Some groups are learning about Thomas Edison and other groups are reading about extreme weather. We are proud of everyone who met their most recent AR goal. We have set new goals…keep reading! We have also picked new 4th grade leadership students for the month of January. Our students are also learning new songs in music and even movements and dance to go along with the songs. Pretty impressive!
Discovery Charter
Physical Education Department:
At the end of January, all Physical Education/Health classes will be covering the Family Life unit in which students will receive instruction on Family Life/Human Development, Disease Prevention, and Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment. The unit of instruction has a tentative start date of January 23-27, 2017. Curriculum will be available in the front office to view and on the permission slip is a link for the video that is shown. Permission slips were sent home Friday, December 16th, and please return signed ASAP after break!!!
Please contact PE Department for any questions:
Coach Lopez- blopez@tracylc.net
Coach Penirian- mpenirian@tracylc.net
Coach Williams- dwilliams@tracylc.net
Happy Holidays to our awesome parents and guardians. Your support, your care, and your warm hearts make our lives at Tracy Learning Center extra special. Wishing you joy and peace during this holiday season, and throughout the year. May you have the best holiday season ever!
THIS WEEK IN DCS:
January is a very busy month for students at Discovery. We returned from break, will attend Science Camp or Stay Camp next week, and have a holiday on Monday, January 16th.
SCIENCE CAMP: Monday, January 9th through Friday, January 13th.
**Monday, January 9th –
- STUDENTS MUST REPORT TO THE GYM BETWEEN 8:00 – 8:30
- BUSSES WILL LOAD AT APROXIMATELY 10:15, You are welcome to wait with your child (this is not mandatory)
- NO MORE THAN 2 BAGS OF LUGGAGE
- BRING ONE DISPOSABLE LUNCH
- INSIDE LUGGAGE – PACK A BIG, GARBAGE BAG (for wet clothing)
- ALL MEDICATION MUST BE IN ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER, WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME
- ALL MAIL IS DELIVERED AT BREAKFAST, IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CHILD TO RECEIVE A LETTER THERE WILL BE A LETTER DROP OFF IN THE GYM (Monday morning)
**Friday, January 13th– Students return by the end of the school day.
STAY CAMP: Monday, January 9th through Friday, January 12th. STAY CAMP STUDENTS: NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY.
**Monday – Thursday (regular school hours).
**Tuesday (weather permitting) – bowling (students will walk to and from the West Valley Bowl)
**Thursday – Taking city busses, students/teachers will watch the movie, Sing, at Cinemark 14
Sleep Over begins at 6:30pm and will end at 9:00am on Friday – no school Friday
**$25.00 donation please (THIS IS NOT MANDATORY!!)
THIS WEEK IN DCS:
Sahej Sethi received an honorable medal and certificate from the San Joaquin County Office of Education for her participation in the Spelling Bee. Sahej representing Tracy Learning Center’s 4 – 6 grade students. We are super proud of her!!
We would like to answer your questions, concerns, or discuss your child….
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:
January 9 – 13 – Science Camp or Stay Camp (for students not attending Science Camp)
January 16 – School Holiday (Martin Luther King Day)
Discover High School Prep
Welcome back!!! January certainly has brought a lot of rain so far. The students are handling eating lunch inside like real troopers!!
Leadership:
DHSP Leadership will be having a Winter Dance on January 27th from 5:30-7 in the gym. If any parents would like to help chaperone or help in any way, please contact Mrs. Dominguez at ddominguez@tracylc.net
Social Studies: Important dates for Wax Museum:
Monday/Wednesday, January 9/11 ……… Copy of Written Monologue turned into Mrs. Wallace (the Book)
10 points (classwork) p. 72 in Agenda
Monday/Wednesday, January 23/25…… Monologue Memorized, ½ or more of board complete
25 points/ 10 points (project) p.76 in Agenda
Monday/Wednesday, February 6/8……..Trifold/Set completed
25 points (project) p.80 in Agenda
Monday/Wednesday, February 13/15……….Costume and props check
15 points (classwork) p. 82 in Agenda
Date to be determined………Costume and props turned into class
25 points (project) p.84 in Agenda
Date to be determined Presentation
75 points (tests/quizzes) pg. 84 in Agenda
Evening performances to be determined (Den Points) p. 84 in Agenda
Language Arts:
Ms. Langston’s classes are working on comparative writing.
Mrs. Stewart’s English78 continue their weekly practice of the PSAT.
Mrs. Zo’s class is reading Farewell to Manzanar a fascinating story of Japanese internment during WWII
Math:
The Algebra classes are working on Polynomials
Science:
The Science classes are learning about simple machines and machines.
The Social Studies classes are working on understanding The Bill of Rights.
FAMILY LIFE PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSION SLIP
DCS PE/Health
Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s):
At the end of January, all Physical Education/Health classes will be covering the Family Life unit in which students will receive instruction on Family Life/Human Development, Disease Prevention, and Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment. The unit of instruction has a tentative start date of January 23-27, 2017.
Our 5/6, and 7/8 classes will be separated by gender during instruction regarding puberty, human development, disease prevention, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment. You are invited and encouraged to review all of the materials used. The curriculum will be available for your viewing in a grade specific binder. These binders will be located in the front office starting on January 3rd, 2017. If you would to preview some of the material we will cover please visit https://filmideas.com/digital-previews.php, and click on My changing life: Transitioning to Middle School Series.
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. King lking@tracylc.net
Language Arts: Ms. Langston alangston@tracylc.net
Language Arts: Mrs. Cerezo acerezo@tracylc.net
Science: Mrs. Ramirez aramirez@tracylc.net
Social Studies, 7/8 Learning Director: Mrs. Wallace dwallace@tracylc.net
Enjoy your Holiday!!
MHS Charter Chatter
Charter Chatter January 6, 2017
January through March, Mrs. Stewart and the counseling staff will be meeting with all students for their annual counseling review. During this meeting fast track classes and next year’s schedule will be planned. Only 10th grade parents will be invited for an appointment. Time is extremely limited and we encourage 10th grade parents to rearrange schedules as necessary to attend their scheduled time. Appointment letters were mailed with the first semester report cards.
PSAT
A meeting was held on Thursday to explain and interpret your PSAT student’s results. If you or your student has any questions regarding the test please contact the counseling department.
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 17th – February 17th, 2017. Dates for the program are July 9-August 5, 2017 *UC Irvine ends on August 4, 2017* For more information please visit https://cosmos-ucop.ucdavis.edu/app/main
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!
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
Moose Crab Feed Dinner – Friday, January 20, 2017 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Tracy Moose Lodge (35 East 6th Street, Tracy) – ring doorbell to enter facility. Volunteers needed: 2 dish washers and 6 servers are needed – black and white server attire. Volunteers MUST contact Alex Zamora for scheduling **Contact: Alex Zamora 209-815-6408 or azamora@pacbell.net**