TLC Charter Chatter
A weekly newsletter written to parents of the TLC
Virginia Stewart
Mathematics at DCS and MHS
As many of you may have noticed when we posted our school Dashboard results, the scores in mathematics from Discovery and the high school are particularly low. We have looked at all the reasons for this. We are implementing new curriculum that is more uniform across staff, and we have developed pre-requisites for moving on to the next course. What we have found is that students move on to the next course without mastery of the material from the previous class. Therefore, this school year we will be reviewing grades and the Davis Readiness test to determine readiness for the next level.
In high school students need a C+ and a 60% on the readiness test in May to move to the next level of math. If they do not have the prerequisites, they can retake the course in FASTTRACK to improve the grade and readiness and then may go on.
In Discovery, students need a 75% on the Readiness test for the next level. We are not expecting students to be enrolled in Algebra two next year in Discovery. We are finding that most students are not as masterful in Algebra or Geometry for that advanced a move.
It is important for students to learn math well since it is so sequential in nature. One course builds on another and it is important that all skills are mastered to be successful at the next level.
Safety First!
This is a friendly reminder that all students must be using the crosswalk when crossing the street. Please talk with your students about street safety, we have noticed many students not using the crosswalk and crossing the street through oncoming traffic before and after school.
Ways we can avoid an accident:
· Have a conversation
· Lead by example
· DO NOT waive your student over to your car so that they have to cross traffic
· Walk with your student
Soaring with the Falcons:
California DMV says I’m not old enough and cannot yet learn to drive , but FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) says I can start leaning how to fly a glider.
Hello, my name is Montek Sethi and I am a Fourteen year old freshman at Millennium High School in Tracy, CA. I have been flying in small airplanes with my dad since I was Six years old and I recently took on the sport of Soaring at Byron glider-port as a student pilot. Soaring is a sport of flying a glider which is an aircraft with very long and narrow wings BUT without an engine, so it has to b
e launched into the air by a winch or towed to a desired altitude tied to a tow rope behind an airplane with an engine. Once at a desired altitude, the tow rope is released and the glider stays aloft in rising thermals or mountain wave and glides to a landing at the end of a flight. Avid soaring enthusiast can stay aloft and travel hundreds of miles in a glider in right conditions.
I am also humbled to have received my first scholarship of $1000 through Nor-Cal Soaring Association. First, I took an introductory flight and I was so hooked that I started training within a week. Flying in a quiet cockpit of a glider with only the wind noise against a clear canopy is an out of the world experience in which one defies gravity and soars several thousand feet above the ground so high and close or sometimes even higher than the clouds, and often flying with the birds because they always know where the rising air or lift is. I enjoy soaring so much that I show up early mornings every weekend, at Byron gliderport sometimes in freezing weather to volunteer my time helping and learning from other glider pilots and instructors, while making good use of my scholarship and to reach my goal of solo flight as soon as possible. I absolutely enjoy this sport due to the sheer fun along with the science aspect of it and encourage more young people to try this sport as well. Norcal Soaring offers a great club environment with safe and affordable equipment and excellent instructors, some with several decades of soaring and training experience who are eager to share their knowledge with future pilots.
My goal is to accomplish a solo flight in a glider before end of this year, while I’m still fourteen and FAA says that any 14yrs. old is old enough to learn and fly solo with adequate training. Feel free to email me or visit the following link for more information about soaring and learning to fly.
Lunch Menu for this week…. YUM!
Lunch Menu – Week Mar. 18 – 22
Mon. – Pizza
Tues – Beef or Bean Taco
Wed- Chicken Parmesan
Thurs – Beef or Vegi Buger
Fri – Mac and Cheese
Personal Days for Next School Year 2019/2020
VERY IMPORTANT CHANGE for our upcoming 2019/2020 school year Beginning August 5, 2019, we are reducing personal/family days for students from 10 days down to 7 days. Allowing 7 days is still much higher than what the district schools allow and we feel 7 days is more beneficial for the school and for each students’ education.
TK
In anticipation of Spring, we participated in several Spring-themed activities this week. We enjoyed a picnic outdoors on the grass, created our own kites to fly outside, and followed-along with a Hungry Caterpillar activity. The weather was perfect for soaking up the sun and enjoying Science time outdoors this week!
Best of all, we devoted some time on Thursday afternoon to developing and creating leprechaun traps to use on St. Patrick’s Day. Those tricky leprechauns didn’t stand a chance with our creative inventions … we used boxes, rods, and blocks galore, to capture any leprechaun who might try to create mischief in our classroom!
Initial Phase
The P2 teachers want to thank all of the family members that came to parent conferences this week. We thoroughly enjoyed talking with each and every one of you. It is always a nice time to reflect on how the year has been going and to set goals for the last trimester. We greatly appreciate all of the support we have been given from all of our P2 families!
Thank you for all of the tissue box donations. Because of your generosity all students were able to make their very own leprechaun trap for St. Patrick’s Day! Students will be coming home with their traps to set up at home! Because St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday we will celebrate on Monday. Students are encouraged to wear green and teachers have planned some fun St. Patrick’s Day themed math and language arts activities.
Phase One
Our parent teacher conferences were this week and all the Phase One teachers would like to thank all the parents that meet with us. We enjoyed getting to sit down and discuss the accomplishments your child has made this trimester. These were the last set of conferences for the year.
We also had the Scholastic Book Fair this week and the students LOVED getting to go shop with real money to buy books. They were so proud to have their own money to buy items; we just have teach them about taxes now. The teachers would also like to thank all the parents and families that purchased books for the classrooms from our book fair this week. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
On Monday we sent home the permission slip for our upcoming field trip to the Chabot Space and Science Center on April 4th. Permission slips are due back by March 22 and chaperones will be notified on Monday, April 25th. In order to be a chaperone please make sure that you are cleared to be a volunteer. Ask Mrs. Kay in the office for more information.
Phase Two:
Thank you to everyone who attended conferences this week. We enjoyed meeting with you and discussing trimester 3 goals.
This week our phase 2 students continued our fractions units. As you talk with your child, try to help them see how math is used in real life, everyday. Cooking, shopping, spending and saving money, telling time…these are all ways that numbers are used in our everyday lives!
Discovery Middle School ⅚
Note:VERY IMPORTANT CHANGE for our upcoming 2019/2020 school year Beginning August 5, 2019, we are reducing personal/family days for students from 10 days down to 7 days. Allowing 7 days is still much higher than what the district schools allow and we feel 7 days is more beneficial for the school and for each students’ education.
5th-8th Grade DCS Physical Education:
Students are Enjoying their “Final Rotation” of Drum Fit, Fitness & Ramp Shot!!! Please take a second to look at the following Letter as our “DCS Annual Jog-A-Thon” is coming up soon in May & we are now looking for sponsors!!!!
To whom it may concern:
Here at the Tracy Learning Center, our Physical Education and art programs strive to encourage health and wellness for a lifetime. The Tracy Learning Center believes in teaching the mind and body from a young age to stay fit and eat healthy. Our Primary students receive physical education every day for 35 minutes and our middle school students receive physical education for 48 minutes. We teach our students that it is important to take care of their bodies physically, socially, and mentally no matter their age.
Tracy Learning Center, is currently planning our 5th annual Jog-A-Thon to raise funds for our education programs. Both schools Primary (k-4th grade) and Discovery (5-8th grade) would like to raise funds to help purchase supplies for our music and art electives as well as PE equipment. We are currently seeking sponsorships for our event t-shirts. We would like to supply a t-shirt to each participant that will display their “race day bib,” keeping track of how many laps they complete on the front. Each of our sponsors will have their logos proudly displayed on the back of each shirt!
On behalf of Primary and Discovery Charter, we would like to invite your company to help promote our youth’s healthy active lifestyles by being a proud sponsor of this event. We are asking for a $250-$500 donation ($250 = your logo printed on 400 shirts, $500 = your logo printed on 800 shirts) to help us purchase our shirts and sponsor our event. The Jog-A-Thon will take place on Friday, May 10th, 2019. If you are interested in being a sponsor please contact me at mpenirian@tracylc.net or call me at (209) 290-0511 .
The Discovery Charter School greatly appreciates your time, support, and consideration. Our federal tax ID number is 68-0479762.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Maegan Penirian &The Physical Education Staff at the Tracy Learning Center
Also, as a quick friendly reminder, please remind students that they should be applying “Deodorants/Antiperspirants/Baby Powder or Sanitary Wipes” in the morning before they are coming to school and showering daily; as their bodies have already begun puberty even though there may be no signs of it showing physically!!!! Thank You!!! 🙂
Your Dedicated DCS Falcon PE Staff
⅚ Upcoming Dates to Know:
March 21: Mrs. Zuniga’s Career Fair from 9:00-10:30
March 22: Ms. T’s Career Fair from 9:00-10:30
A Glance into ⅚ Classrooms:
Ms. Ferguson with Technology
This week the last group of students started Technology! We began by going over classroom rules and expectations, grades, and the concepts they will be learning through the trimester. The students also began their typing practice programs and will have their first typing test this Friday to find out their current typing speed. The students have a multiple choice vocabulary quiz on Wednesday, March 20th.
Verbal Expressions/Drama with Ms. Dane:
The Trimester ended with a Zing, when the citizens of Brimstone visited primary and put on the show, “Lightning Larry.” Larry came into town and changed the hearts of Evil Eye McNeevil and Crooked Curt and the gang of outlaws with a shot of positiveness that went..Zing, Zing, Zing -and changed the town into a happy, celebrating group. Primary Students enjoyed interacting with Discovery and finding out that “This town IS big enough for All of us.”
Ms. Diaz with Science
Science has been exciting with students designing their own stream table experiments to show how human activity can affect the rate of erosion. In addition, we are one investigation away from finishing the landforms unit. Next up…ecosystems and the environment. Lastly, be sure to check out the science class blog www.tlcdiscoverychannel.weebly.com. The following students’ blogs have been posted and are ready to delight you and satiate your curiosities, with topics ranging from dinosaurs to nuclear energy: (Honors 2) Michael Abeledo, Tejpreet Banwait, Ashlan Brantley, Xitlalyc Ceja, Alexa Chavez, Jayme Aguon, Patrick Bouckaert, Jia Camacho, Diego Cervantes, (Scholastic 2) Hayden Faaborg, Isabella Gomez, Erika Hawk, Avery Haines, Christian Jacobo, (Varsity 2) Ivan Duran, Alonzo Anderson, Jimena Gonzalez Ponce, Johanna Jepsen, (Scholastic 1) Tiffany Armer, Karen Barajas, James Caldwell, Michael-Anthony Arguello, Jade Barajas, Jaylene Cisneros, (Honors 1) Kaylah Aguilar, Shanjeet Brar, Kyle Ardenyi, Justin Brooks, (Varsity 1) Anahy Aguilar, Micah Bauer, Jocelyn Arechiga Collazo.
Mrs. Zuniga Math
Varsity: Our class is practicing operations of decimals. Practicing at home is crucial, students use decimals in their everyday lives. Money is a great way to help your child practice operations of decimals. There will be a unit test for decimals next Friday, March 22.
Scholastic: We are to the end of Unit 3. Students need to continue practicing integer operations and order of operations. We will be reviewing this week and next, as our Unit 3 Test is set for Wednesday, March 20.
Honors: Unit 5 is at an end. Students have been reviewing expressions, equations, proportions, systems and solving for variables all week for their unit test which will take place next Wednesday, March 20.
*Extra note for future reference: I would like to inform parents, that student work should take no more than 20 minutes each night. If your child is struggling with certain problems please draw a line once they have worked for 20 minutes and initial their homework. This will help students get the help and focus in class for the concepts that they are struggling with each night.
Ms. Rodieck’s ⅚ Language Arts/Humanities:
This week the students have been learning about the history of the Women’s Lib Movement and how women in the past have made it possible for us to do the things we can do today. We read several articles including one about Title IX. Next week, they will write complete their essay on the topic.
Our current Unit in Humanities has been posted to Google Classroom.
We continue to move forward with diagramming. Many students ask why they need to learn diagramming – it helps the students learn about the parts of speech and how to write better sentences.
Book Club Books were passed out Thursday or Friday and the students wrote down in their agendas when their book reports will be due for Trimester Three.
Ms. Christensen 5/6 Language Arts/Humanities:
This week we learned about progressive verb tenses in scholastic and honors. In varsity, we did some writing activities for growing a paragraph and started writing a summary for a Beatles article. In Humanities, the students began their art unit and are analyzing pieces of art from the ’60s. Pi Day all groups did a main idea activity.
Math/Geography/SWO with Ms. T:
DCS Parents and Family- Save the Date for our very own DCS Career Fair! Ms. T’s classes will be presenting on Friday, March 22 from 9:00-10:30 AM in our very own TLC Gym. Please check in with Ms. Kay in the front office upon arrival.
*Students need to come professionally dressed on the day of presentations.
We started practicing presenting our Careers to other students, including some 7th/8th graders who gave us constructive feedback so we can be at our best on March 22!
DCS 7- 8
⅞ Upcoming Dates to Know:
Note:VERY IMPORTANT CHANGE for our upcoming 2019/2020 school year Beginning August 5, 2019, we are reducing personal/family days for students from 10 days down to 7 days. Allowing 7 days is still much higher than what the district schools allow and we feel 7 days is more beneficial for the school and for each students’ education.
Spring Picture Day and Promotion Picture Day will be on Tuesday,
April 9, 2019.
Language Arts:
This week students examined their own sanctuary and determined its connection to our novel 7 Sanctuaries. This novel takes a very serious look at the trials and tribulations of the 1960’s and how people sought solace in various sanctuaries.
This is the start of the third trimester and in this trimester students can expect to have numerous opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned over the first two trimesters.
Math:
With Mr. Singh
Varsity- Doing unit 7 – completed 7.1 solving 2-step equation and doing 7.2 solving multi-step equation.
Honors-Completed unit 8 Similarity and doing review on the theorem and doing worksheet of 8.6 Proportional Properties of Triangles and 8.7 Dilation.
Scholastic- Completed unit 6 Polynomial and doing review of unit 6.
Science with Ms. Dominguez:
Thank you to all of the families and students that participated in this year’s Science Olympiad events! It was a pleasure to coach both 7/8 and 5/6, and I greatly appreciate all the support the teams received from teachers and the families of the students participating. Thank you to those that donated their time to be at the event, and brought snacks and water to share! I’m already looking forward to next year!
Social Studies with Ms. Zaca
Students this week started and completed their Three Branches of Government poster project with their groups. Students were asked to create a tree with three branches that were to represent the constitution and three branches: legislative, judicial, and executive branch. They were also instructed to create a total of leaves that were placed on the branches with facts pertaining to each one. Next week, students will take another shot at the preamble and will participate in a game show activity about the three branches.
Technology with Ms. Ferguson
This week in technology students are being introduced to the class, assigned computers, given a class syllabus, and will begin their first vocabulary assignment.
Verbal Expressions/Drama with Ms. Dane :
The Trimester ended with a Zing, when the citizens of Brimstone visited primary and put on the show, “Lightning Larry.” Larry came into town and changed the hearts of Evil Eye McNeevil and Crooked Curt and the gang of outlaws with a shot of positiveness that went..Zing, Zing, Zing -and changed the town into a happy, celebrating group. Primary Students enjoyed interacting with Discovery and finding out that “This town IS big enough for All of us.”
Millennium High School
Soaring with the Falcons:
California DMV says I’m not old enough and cannot yet learn to drive , but FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) says I can start leaning how to fly a glider.
Hello, my name is Montek Sethi and I am a Fourteen year old freshman at Millennium High School in Tracy, CA. I have been flying in small airplanes with my dad since I was Six years old and I recently took on the sport of Soaring at Byron glider-port as a student pilot. Soaring is a sport of flying a glider which is an aircraft with very long and narrow wings BUT without an engine, so it has to be launched into the air by a winch or towed to a desired altitude tied to a tow rope behind an airplane with an engine. Once at a desired altitude, the tow rope is released and the glider stays aloft in rising thermals or mountain wave and glides to a landing at the end of a flight. Avid soaring enthusiast can stay aloft and travel hundreds of miles in a glider in right conditions.
I am also humbled to have received my first scholarship of $1000 through Nor-Cal Soaring Association. First, I took an introductory flight and I was so hooked that I started training within a week. Flying in a quiet cockpit of a glider with only the wind noise against a clear canopy is an out of the world experience in which one defies gravity and soars several thousand feet above the ground so high and close or sometimes even higher than the clouds, and often flying with the birds because they always know where the rising air or lift is. I enjoy soaring so much that I show up early mornings every weekend, at Byron gliderport sometimes in freezing weather to volunteer my time helping and learning from other glider pilots and instructors, while making good use of my scholarship and to reach my goal of solo flight as soon as possible. I absolutely enjoy this sport due to the sheer fun along with the science aspect of it and encourage more young people to try this sport as well. Norcal Soaring offers a great club environment with safe and affordable equipment and excellent instructors, some with several decades of soaring and training experience who are eager to share their knowledge with future pilots.
My goal is to accomplish a solo flight in a glider before end of this year, while I’m still fourteen and FAA says that any 14yrs. old is old enough to learn and fly solo with adequate training. Feel free to email me or visit the following link for more information about soaring and learning to fly.
Decision Medicine
Join Decision Medicine this summer and explore the exciting world of medicine. Our program is designed to introduce you to a possible career path that you may have thought was unavailable to you. Applicants must be 16 years old by the start of the program (July 15, 2019). Apply online February 1, 2019 – March 1, 2019. www.decisionmedicine.com
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T&J Educational Supplies and Tutoring Club
Offers FREE Tutoring During Black History Month
GRADES PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Reading • Math • Algebra I&2 • Geometry
320 W. 11th Street, Tracy, CA
Every Monday thru Thursday in February
3:30 – 6:30 PM
Meet Terry and Jackie Thomas!
Parking in rear!
Youth Advisory Commission (YAC) in currently Accepting Applications
The City of Tracy is currently accepting applications from teens and adults interested in serving on the Youth Advisory Commission (YAC). The Commission operates in an advisory capacity to the Recreation Division – Youth & Teen Services staff, the Parks and Community Services Commission, the City Council and other community groups on matters relating to youth in Tracy.
Members of YAC recommend and assist in the planning and implementation of youth programs and events and host forums on health, safety and recreation. Adult Commissioners will work with teens from all Tracy high schools, as well as City leaders and staff, to implement programs that positively impact the youth of our community. Adult Commissioners will also mentor the teens as they work with them on subcommittees and special projects. Both adult and teen commissioners attend monthly and scheduled meetings.
Youth Advisory Commission meetings take place on the second Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. at Tracy City Hall, Room 203.
Teens between the ages of 14 to 18 and attending high school in Tracy, as well as adults that live in Tracy, are welcome to apply. Applications may be obtained at the Tracy City Hall, located at 333 Civic Center Plaza, or by visiting www.cityoftracy.org and clicking on the Elected Officials & Policy link.
The YAC application deadline is Friday, May 3, 2019.
Summer Delta College Early Start
There is a College Early Start Meeting for students on Monday, February 25th at 12:15 in Mr. Hunt and Mr. Singh’s room 204. If students are interested in taking summer classes at Delta College, they must attend this meeting! There will be an application workshop on Friday 3/1 at 12:00 in Room 204 so students can complete the next step in this process with help. Students should bring their SSN! Seniors applying/reapplying to Delta should also attend the application workshop and must sign up in the Counseling Office.
FAFSA Workshop
The Counseling Office hosted a drop-in FAFSA workshop on Thursday and assisted nine 12th grade students’ families in submitting their FAFSA before the upcoming March 2nd deadline. Completing this free online application on time during senior year is so important in order to be considered for college financial aid including grants, scholarships, work study and loans.
San Joaquin Delta College Application Workshop – March 1, 2019
A group of Millennium High School Seniors participated in a San Joaquin Delta College workshop today. Students were able to get a head start on the application process with the help of a Delta College representative.
Tracy Tank Town Lions Club – St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner
10-12 volunteers are needed to help serve dinner, distribute prizes, and clean up at Tracy Tank Town Lions Club Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner on Sunday March 17, 2019. Volunteers are required to wear black slacks, a white collared shirt, and closed comfortable shoes. If interested, please contact the Millennium High School Counseling office at (209) 627-8299 or email: mhscounseling@tracylc.net
Millennium High School Homework Support – Schedule Change
Hours for MHS Homework Support have changed, please note the new schedule below:
