Charter Chatter
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Virginia Stewart
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Did you know that every five years our charters are up for
renewal? The school district is our
sponsoring agent. We have to submit a
petition to stay open as a charter every five years. The Tracy District Board of Education decides
to renew the charter or not. This year,
both Primary and Millennium are up for renewal.
We are in the process of writing the renewal petition. There are several changes to the law
regarding the way a charter petition is written, so we are working hard to get
the renewal petition in order to send to the Board.
Once the petition is written and submitted to the School
District, the district has sixty days to decide. The first step is a public hearing at their
board meeting; the second is an action item at the next board meeting. We are trying to get the Millennium Charter
petition to the school district by January and the Primary one to the district
by February.
Please be aware we may need some of you to attend the public
hearing meetings or find a way to voice your desire to have the charters
renewed. The difficult part of the
petitions is that we are asking to relocate the high school to a different site
nearby so that we can expand both Primary and Discovery to allow more of the
students on the waiting list to attend our schools. This may be a material change the district is
not in favor of approving.
It is during times like this that I do not take for granted
the special opportunity we have to be allowed to run charter schools separate
from the school district. It allows us
such freedom and responsibility to provide a special and different education
for our children. I do not take that for
granted!
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Misc. Announcements
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Next Parent
Council Meeting
Thurs. Nov. 21 @ 4:15 in P5
Holidays
Entire Thanksgiving Week
WACKY WALLET WEDNESDAY IS
BACK!!! Please come out and support Tracy Learning
Center on Wednesday, November 20th! Wacky
Wallet Wednesday will take place at Togos AND Cold
Stone in the Safeway shopping center. Bring a flyer with you so that TLC will
get a percentage of the proceeds! Flyers coming home soon!!
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PCS/DCS Lunch Menu
Week Nov. 18 - Nov. 22
Mon. – Pizza
Tues. –Spaghetti
Wed – Chicken
Nugget Wednesday
Thurs. – Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Fri. – Open Face
Hot Turkey Sandwich and Mashed Potatoes
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Primary Charter
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PCS Gold
Reminders:
Thanksgiving
Break will be November 25th - November 29th!
Canned Food Drive: We will be collecting canned food for the month
of November for Tracy Interfaith. The classroom that collects the most canned
food will get a special treat! The last day to bring cans is Friday, November
22nd!!
Morning carline starts at 7:45. There are not teachers at morning
carline until 7:45. Please do not drop your child off and leave before 7:45 in
the morning, as they will be unsupervised. Do not
leave your car unattended during carline; this has been causing us problems
getting carline started in the afternoon.
Please make sure that your PCS child is supervised
at all times after pick up in carline and while you are waiting for your DCS
students. PSC students are often playing/throwing tan bark and shouting
right outside the administrative offices and classrooms where learning is still
going on.
WACKY WALLET WEDNESDAY IS
BACK!!! Please come out and support Tracy Learning
Center on Wednesday, November 20th! Wacky
Wallet Wednesday will take place at Togos AND Cold
Stone in the Safeway shopping center. Bring a flyer with you so that TLC will
get a percentage of the proceeds! Flyers coming home soon!!
Sapphire PCS
The Sapphire Team had a short but productive week!
Please read the letter below
from the Sapphire team’s student council secretary Komal Khehra along with
pictures of our student council in action:
Sapphire Student Council would like to
thank everyone who donated hot chocolate and cookies. We collected 58
packages of cookies and 708 packets of hot chocolate!
The cards and letters you made for
Veteran's Day were delivered to the veterans. They were hung up at our
local VFW for decoration.
For the holiday season our student
council will be sending cards to VA hospitals. If anyone has holiday
cards to donate for this cause we would appreciate your help!
Student
council has worked very hard on these projects…….please help by sending in unused
holiday cards that you may have left over from last year or a couple loose
cards that you could donate to this cause; please send them in by December 6th. We want to make the Holidays BRIGHT for our
veterans.
Parent Teacher conferences will be held next week November
18 – 22; if you cannot make the time that you signed up for please let your
child’s teacher know. All conferences will be held in the gym unless otherwise
specified.
PCS ART
This week in Art: The
K/1’s learned how to draw an Octopus and color with oil pastels. They added texture by gluing beans
onto the legs. The 2/3’s
drew dancing giraffes to go with the book “Giraffes Don’t Dance”.4thgrade finished making their stamps and printed
designs, making Tapa Cloth from the Pacific Islands.
DCS 5th/6th
Parent/Teacher
Conference:
First trimester student led parent-teacher
conferences will be held next week on November 19th, 20th, and 21st. If you
have questions regarding a conference please direct them to your child's
homeroom teacher. We look forward to hearing student goals for second
trimester.
Garnet:
Thank
you to all the parents who helped make our first DCS field trip of the year
possible! Buses for field trips are very costly so having willing parent
drivers made the event possible for all students.
Gold:
The Academy of Sciences field trip permission
slip forms are due Monday, November 18th. We have many parents interested in
attending so a lottery system will be used to select chaperones. You will be
notified in a few weeks if you are chosen as a chaperone.
Bring your pictures and scrapbooks for SWO
Monday next week! We are currently working on two Personal Awareness pages.
Your photos should demonstrate three
character traits you possess and three character traits you desire. Each photo
must include a title and a caption. To earn a high score make your captions
clever or interesting.
PHSA 7th and 8th
This week in PHSA…..
In science, students completed
their online investigation on Mixtures, Compounds, and Solutions and started a
lab comparing elements, mixtures and compounds with sulfur and iron. Students
will be taking an open-note test on Monday. Due to the test being open
note, no study guide will be sent home.
In science enrichment, students
have continued to learn about forces. This week we have been focusing on
gravity and the roles it plays on our daily lives.
On Thursday evening, three PHSA students
went to Dinner with a Scientist with Ms. Powers (through the San Joaquin County
Office of Education). The students got to meet people that use science in their
professions. Students got to ask questions to a variety of scientists, from a
zoologist, a structural engineer, and many college professors!
Geometry is wrapping up their
study of triangles and will round out the trimester with constructions of
congruent triangles and designing a dance floor using congruent triangles.
Pre-Algebra is working towards
a unit that really is PRE-algebra. This trimester has been cementing
skills needed for algebraic success.
Mrs.. Carr's Pre-Algebra is
studying exponents and starting a unit on scientific notation....using
exponents with powers of 10. Mathematics is the language of science, so
it is crucial to understand these concepts.
Friday, November 15th is the
closing day for grade books. Teachers will be wrapping up all their grading and
submitting the grades through Aeries. Parents will receive a copy of the
report card in the mail. If there are concerns, please contact the
teacher directly or start with the homeroom teachers if there are several
issues. Thank you.
Thursday, December 5th, the second
SWO Project will be given out and explained to the students. This
project is handled by the Global Studies teachers. Mr. Adams will be
handling the eighth graders and Mrs. King will be in charge of the seventh
graders. The projects will be available on line after they have been given out
to the students.
Congratulations to all the
students who have had a green trimester. Friday, November 22nd will be
the celebration of this accomplishment.
The Art Elective Class is finishing up the
trimester by learning weaving. The students have a choice of making a
basket, a circle weaving, or a Dream Catcher. Their previous project of Agam
Kinetic Art is on display in the hallway outside of the office, and is
receiving a lot of positive attention.
Science Olympiad will have another after school
practice after Thanksgiving break on December 4th at 4:30 – 5:30. We will have teachers on hand to help teams
get organized and gather materials.
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MHS
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Thank you to all the students that attended the SAC State/
UC Davis College field trip on Thursday.
We appreciate both colleges taking the time to accommodate
us!
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Community Service
1.
Astoria Gardens “Thanksgiving Brunch”- Saturday, November 16th
from 9:30-3:30pm Astoria Gardens is in need of help. Students will help
with set up, serving and clean up. Food will be provided to the students that
help. Please help them make a difference and help out in this amazing event. If
you are interested please check in at the main office at Astoria Gardens at
9:30am.
Spring
Delta College Info
Parents of students who are interested in taking
classes at Delta College for the Spring 2014 semester need to carefully read
the important steps listed below regarding the early start procedures. Additional information can be found at http://www.tracylc.net/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.
Spring
Delta Class DEADLINES:
·
CES Forms are Due Friday, December 6th.
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Registration for all
students will be December 12th regardless of what your initial
registration date and time states.
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Remember that if you need
a class for spring and you do not register for one, we will put you into an
elective.
Passport to College
This is for all
senior students and parents who are participating in Passport to College at
Delta College. If you failed to register
for Delta College and complete the assessment test by the advertised deadlines,
those deadlines have been extended. You still have the opportunity to
complete the steps and be included in the program.
Tracy Unified
School District will be hosting twp Parent/Student Meetings for the 2013-14
school year. You may choose either of these meetings to attend, but your
attendance at ONE of them is
mandatory.
West High
School
November 20th,
2013
7pm
Gymnasium
Failure to attend
one of these meeting could cause you to forfeit your two years of free tuition
at Delta College. If you are unable to attend on this date, other dates in
different districts are posted on the passport.deltacollege.edu website.
However, you MUST attend ONE of these meetings to ensure your
continued participation in the program.
For More
information about these meetings or any other passport to college questions,
please contact Diana Slawson at 209-954-5020.
Senior Info
Every Tuesday and Thursday there is an open lab for
students seeking help with the college applications and/or any other college
related guidance. The computer lab will
be in Mr. Roger’s Room M8 during lunch from 12:10pm – 12:50pm.
Counselors are still taking individual appointments
with students to assist in guiding them through the college application
process.
Save the Date for December 12th at 6pm for MHS’ Financial Aid Information Night. Important topics will be covered such as the types of financial aid available for college and application deadlines will be discussed.
Other News
Students
who took the PSAT test in October will be receiving their results in
mid-December. There will be a meeting with students on how to interpret
their results and they will be bringing home their test booklet and printed
results. Be on the lookout in December.
TLC”S Got Talent Show Auditions Nov.19-21st
Thank you to all
that turned in an application! This past week auditions slip were pass back in
class. At this time we will not be changing any audition dates. We ask that you
are dressed and ready to go with your music at the time of your audition. A total of 25 acts will be selected….Remember
space is limited!! The acts will be notified the week after Thanksgiving Break
if they were selected. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all at
auditions!:)
Discovery Charter School 6th
Grade Science Camp (Volunteers Needed!)
Student volunteers needed for 6th Grade Science
Camp! Discovery 6th Grade students will be visiting the Santa Cruz
Mountains for a week to explore outdoor education and science. A total of 14 students will be selected to
volunteer for this exciting weeklong opportunity. Students can earn a total of 60 hours of
community service for participating.
Upon reviewing applications, select students will be asked to participate
in a short interview. This is a
wonderful opportunity to work with youth and earn community service. The best part is that it’s free! Food and
lodging expenses will be provided by The Tracy Learning Center.
To be eligible for this opportunity, please check the
minimum requirements below:
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Be 16 years or older
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Have a current G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher (Please
complete the grade check on the back side of this form)
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Must be able to commit from Monday, March 31st –
Friday, April 4th
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Application
and essay submitted by the deadline of Wednesday December 18th, 2013.
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*There will be a group interview January 9th,
which is the first week back from break.
Upcoming Events:
MHS
will be participating in Brighter Christmas for the holiday season. Brighter
Christmas is a non-profit organization that provides food and toys to Tracy
residents in need during the
Christmas holidays. Ninety seven percent of
all money raised, and all donation received is disturbed to those in need in
the Tracy community. Each year scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors
which may be either recipients or volunteers of Brighter Christmas. This event
will run from Monday, November 18th to Tuesday, December 17th.
To kick off our winter sports we are having Spirit
Week!!! Here are the following Spirit
Dress Days:
Monday-Cozy Day (pj day)
Tuesday-Snow Gear Day (scarfs, beanie gloves, etc)
Wednesday- Winter-Crazy Sock Day
Thursday-Ugly Sweater Day
Friday-Nest Color Day (rally day)
Monday-Cozy Day (pj day)
Tuesday-Snow Gear Day (scarfs, beanie gloves, etc)
Wednesday- Winter-Crazy Sock Day
Thursday-Ugly Sweater Day
Friday-Nest Color Day (rally day)
We will also be having a Rally on Friday, November, 22nd!
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