Spring - South Sutter Charter School

Spring 2009
Newsletter
SSCS Physical Office
2453 El Centro Blvd.
East Nicolaus, CA 95659
(Do not send mail to this address)
Mailing address:
1166 Broadway, Suite Q
Placerville, Ca 95667
Phone: 1-800-979-4436
Fax: 530-295-3583
[email protected]
SSCS Directors
Becky Cote: Education Services
Janet Marsh: Education Specialist Support
Happy Spring!
I want to thank all parents and ES's and school staff for a great STAR test year! We were able to test 96.5%
of our students. Thank you to all of the parents who got their students to the test and to all the ES's who went
above and beyond with phone calls, reminders, and in some cases testing students themselves.
Graduation will be May 16th at 3:00 for 8th graders, and 4:00 for 12th graders at the Marcum Illinois school gym located at
2452 El Centro Blvd., East Nicolaus, CA 95659 . Caps and gowns should be sent out this week to all families who ordered
them.
Please continue to sign up for Escrip! This is an easy way to raise money for such things as graduation decorations and
refreshments.
I would like to thank our Parent board for a great year. We also had several parents who participated in our WASC focus
groups and made significant contributions to our WASC self study for our accreditation.
I will continue to be available through the summer to speak to homeschool groups or other groups of parents who may be
interested in learning more about our school.
Have a great summer!
Lisa Voss
South Sutter Charter School
Educational Liaison
(530) 368-6015
From the desk of Shelly Ross
Curriculum Coordinator
Early Elementary Science – Let Nature Take the Course!
Early elementary science should be about experiencing science through the world around
you. A big part of science is learning to be a good observer and continually asking your children
and having them answer the question, “I wonder why?”. During these early years, you will want to capitalize on your
children’s natural curiosity and channel their endless energy into science learning opportunities. Nature walks are great for
this; they are appropriate for all age children, and this makes them especially appealing in the homeschool setting.
The life cycle of insects can be easily observed in backyards in particular through the ladybug, praying mantis, moth,
and butterfly. Mealworms are inexpensive and can be purchased from the local pet supply store. Their life cycle can be
observed indoors while you look for other backyard “finds”. The painted lady butterfly can be
readily purchased from science supply vendors (e.g. Nature Watch, Insect Lore) as larva are
observed in a “butterfly garden” as they change into the chrysalis, and then into the adult
butterfly. While you are observing in nature, read lots of life cycle books from the local library.
The life cycle book pictures are outstanding. They reinforce what the students are observing and also
show them what to look for. For instance, once children see what the ladybug eggs look like in the life cycle
book and where to find them (on the underside of leaves), they are more likely to “search” for them and find
them in nature. You might even consider planting flowers that attract butterflies to your backyard to facilitate
observations. I recommend that you provide your child with a butterfly net that they can wield, but that you also have a
Deluxe butterfly net (e.g. Nature Watch) that is affective for adult use. These Deluxe nets are long so that you can make
your sweep, then fold over the net opening, causing the insects to remain trapped inside.
It is recommended that you go on nature walks using a local natural history guide book so you can observe and identify
plants, insects, and the evidences of animals (tracks and scats) as you encounter them. The process of trying to identify a
plant in the field to a plant picture in a natural history guide book, peaks the children’s observations…particularly if they are
forced to choose between one picture that looks similar to another in identifying their plant. Sometimes the only observable
difference between two species is in the height of the plant or the number of flowers in the flower head. This process
refines their observation skills. If you can’t get a local natural history guide book, then one for Northern California would be
the next best. Various Audubon and Peterson guide books (e.g. Nature Watch, Borders) are also recommended in addition to
your local guide book.
It is beneficial to walk the same nature trails at least once during each season of the year. This
allows the children to observe the life cycles of the same plants and animals. Shrubs that were blooming
with flowers in the summer, will have seed pods on them during your fall walk. The children will be able to
observe which insects prefer to live on and eat which plants. Food chains and food webs can then be
observed and discussed while you are still on the trail.
A good follow up to your nature studies are the incredible Schlessinger science videos. These cover a whole host of
science topics for various ages, and can be purchased from The Library Video Company, http://www.libraryvideo.com/ (as
well as many other vendors that carry the Schlessinger science videos). When you go to the Library Video Company website
and click on Schlessinger Media, there will be a long list of links to their various science video series. Since we have been
talking about insects, I like to use the “Bug City” video series for my insect study follow-up. The series consists of 10
different videos on various insects, appropriate for grades 1-6. The titles include, Aquatic Insects, Bees, Beetles,
Butterflies & Moths, Crickets, Grasshoppers, and Friends, Flies & Mosquitoes, House and Backyard Insects, Ladybugs and
Fireflies, and Spiders & Scorpions. When you click on the title to each of these videos, there is a correlation link that you
can click on that lets you know which California standards are addressed by the video. How cool is that!
Here is what the vendor’s website has to say about the Bug City videos, “Bugsy Seagull™, an irresistible, wisecracking
puppet, adds a measure of playful mischief that ensures kids will laugh as they learn about the world of insects. All aspects
of bug life are touched upon, including body structure, food, habitat, life cycle, mating, camouflage, mutualism (symbiosis),
adaptations, social behavior and more. Students will also learn how to collect and care for various bugs, how to build insect
habitats and attract interesting bugs to them, and spend hours observing insects in action. Each program contains the most
dramatic microscopic photography of insects ever shot.”
I hope you are inspired to get out into nature as much as possible for your science studies, and to enjoy your children
while you observe, talk about, and learn about “science through nature” together.
The monthly parent curriculum trainings will be offered again next year, but with new information added to
them. The workshops are delivered via WebEx which requires that parents have a computer to view the
workshop, located near a phone to listen through. Each month the workshop will address a different core
curriculum focus. When we come back in August, a schedule of specific dates and times will be sent out over
the parent list serve and posted in each school newsletter. The schedule will also include sign-up information.
If you have any questions about these workshops, email Shelley Ross, Curriculum Coordinator, [email protected].
Here are some of the comments that parents have written who have attended the workshops:
“That was a great teleconference; I will definitely sign up for more. It was very comprehensive and I learned a lot.”
“I would like to sign up for this latest workshop. I think you have done a phenomenal job at the last two I have
participated in.”
“I very much enjoyed the Math curriculum workshop and I would like to sign up for the rest.”
If you have any questions about these workshops, email Shelley Ross, [email protected].
Students who have an ES that is highly qualified in the subject area, or students who are taking a course at the junior
college, or students who are taking a course online, all meet the NCLB “highly qualified” course requirement. If the student’s
course does not fall into one of these three categories, then the HQT SME CP courses for the 2009-2010 school year will
be available again for any student who needs to take their course from a highly qualified teacher. Specific information
regarding these courses will be made available in August before students return, if not sooner.
Check out the newly updated parent curriculum information available on the school’s website. To locate curriculum
information, go to your school’s website homepage and click on Educational Resources. On the drop down…click on the word
“Curriculum”. On the Curriculum homepage, scroll down to either link, K
K-5 or 6-12.
12. Scroll down to the subject you are
interested in, and across for the subject specific links.
To get a feel for the type of information located here, if you go to K
K-5
5 History you will find the following history links:
Complete Curriculum (traditional, homeschool, hands
hands-on
on favorites), Online Curriculum (complete), Supplemental Curriculum
(hardcopy & online),
nline), Websites (free), Maps/Charts/Posters, History Crafts and Art Appreciation, History Timelines,
Readers/Literature/Study Guides, History Songs, California History.
Recorded parent curriculum workshops are linked on the far right for each subjec
subject, both in the K-5
5 and 6-12
6
sections of
the website. It is possible that you may need to download the WebEx .ARF player to view the recorded workshops. If so,
download by going to http://www.webex.com/downloadplayer.html
om/downloadplayer.html.. If you are having difficulties downloading the .ARF
player, contact WebEx Support at 866.229.3239 Option 4, or visit support.webex.com for helpful WebEx support
information.
12 index page, if you scroll down past the subjects, you will find links to all of your
Lastly, on the K-5 index page or the 6-12
California Department of Education resources, including the standards for each subject/grade.
We are currently reviewing internet tools that are available to support students in their high
school and post high school academic and career endeavors.
A couple of Fall 2010 options you might like to preview are:
The CLIC Network www.theclic.net --
helps students plan for college and search for scholarships.
I Can Afford College.com www.icanaffordcollege.com provides information about California Community Colleges as an
educational
al option, availability of financial aid and more.
If you know of other tools that may be of benefit/ interest to our students, please, e
e-mail
mail that information to the Guidance
Department so we can review and share it with others.
Thanks so much!
Valorie Kirjola
Guidance Counselor
[email protected]
The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) is a requirement for graduation and for receiving a high school diploma.
Your student has three years to attempt to pass the CAHSEE, starting in their 10th grade year. A score of 350 is required
to pass each area (Math and Language Arts) of the CAHSEE.
All 10th grade students MUST take this exam in the spring. Their results affect our schools report card, which could
affect school funding. Also, it has been proven that the students that take the CAHSEE in 10th grade, on average, pass it
more often than those who wait!
If a student cannot attend their assigned site, the family needs to inform their ES right away. The ES can then have the
assessment department make adjustments as necessary to have the student test at a location more convenient for them.
Check the assessment page on our school web-site for more CAHSEE information and the most current testing site
information: http://www.ieminc.org/Assessment/index.htm#CAHSEE
Here are the CAHSEE testing dates for the 2008-2009 school year:
English Language Arts
Math
Administered to:
Tuesday
Wednesday
October 7, 2008
October 8, 2008
Grades 11 & 12
February 3, 2009
February 4, 2009
Grades 10, 11 & 12
Grade 10-required
May 12, 2009
May 13, 2009
Grades 11 & 12
Grade 10-make ups
Please make sure to have your student attend the CAHSEE!
Testing this year has been going well and we are looking forward to receiving our scores in August from
the state. As soon as they come in, we will mail them out to you along with the student’s STAR reward for this year, if
earned.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to our low STAR scores in previous years, there will be assessment rewards this year ONLY for those
students who score a “Basic” or above level on their STAR tests. The rewards will be given out after we get the scores back.
In addition to scoring a “basic” or above level, 10th graders must attend their February CAHSEE test in order to earn their
reward.
Thank you for getting our students to the STAR test and encouraging them to do the best that they could!
SCANTRON testing is available anytime for you. If you would like to have your student take an end of the year SCANTRON
test, please let your ES know and they can arrange for that to happen. This is a great assessment to see their growth for
this year.
To get a reading list for your student of books in their reading range for this summer, take their Lexile score and go onto
www.lexile.com. Please take advantage of the many resources they have there to find books and articles that are within your
child’s Lexile reading range.
The following is our policy regarding student behavior during our various assessment administrations, most notably the STAR
and CAHSEE. Please review this information with your students prior to arriving at the test location.
An emergency contact number for grades 2-8 must be given to the proctor before testing.
Cell Phones are not allowed out during testing: Students need to turn off cell phones during the test and put
them away. Any phones that are visible or ring during the test will be confiscated and returned at the end of
the test. These precautions are needed to insure security of the test and a good testing environment.
We are using private property and the rules of the facility must be followed.
Students are not allowed to go into other areas of the facility besides the designated test areas.
There will be no rough-housing, walking on benches outside or furniture inside.
Supervising adults will be listened to and obeyed.
There will be no talking, note passing, or noise making while anyone is testing.
There will be no talking when the teacher is talking. Hands will be raised for questions.
During breaks, quiet talking is allowed.
Only one student at a time will be allowed to leave the room to use the bathroom.
When tests are finished, students will stay in the classroom until all others are finished, students must bring quiet
activities to engage in during this time (books, coloring/drawing materials).
Respect will be shown for other's personal space and belongings.
There will be no verbal or physical abuse. Threatening or violent behavior will not be tolerated.
Profanity will not be tolerated.
There is no smoking, drinking, or illegal drug use.
Breaking these rules may result in Suspension or Expulsion from any school group activities or if serious, from the school
itself. Parents will be called immediately and students will be sent home with consequences. If the student is able to makeup the test, he/she will return at a later date to make-up the test missed.
Students may not leave the facility until:
Grades 2-8 parents come in and check students out from their teacher.
Grades 9-12 students check out from their teacher with a signed letter from parent stating that they may leave on
their own (if student does not have a letter, they will wait there until a parent or guardian can be contacted and
talked with by an adult helper or teacher).
Testing Tips
Make sure that your student goes to bed early and has a full
night’s rest prior to testing.
Make sure that your student has a good protein breakfast prior
to testing.
Send your student with a snack and bottled water for break
time.
Prepare your student for testing by using test prep materials.
Let your student know that the results will not affect their
grades; however we do want them to take it seriously and do
their best.
Let your student know that they are not penalized for wrong answers so it’s okay to make an educated guess.
A big thank you to all the students who STAR tested in Auburn
March 30 and 31. SSCS ES’s thought you were well behaved, polite, and cooperative to work
with. We appreciate that everyone was flexible with changes that needed to be made, punctual,
and mostly with smiling faces. Thank you for making our job easier and enjoyable.
Starr Palumbo
Becky Lamoly
Paula Griffith
Kim Keyes
Becky Bradley
Tracy Callahan
Geri Schmidt
Students signed up for the River Cats game on May 6th will have their tickets mailed to their home.
Parents who purchased tickets through the school will also have their tickets mailed to them. The
game will begin at 11:30 am, but students may arrive earlier to attend pre-game
game activities! At 9:30
there will be an assembly with a player question and answer
nswer session. At 10:30, there will be a special
interactive game for students.
On May 15, 2009, students signed up for the Great America GEA, will be exploring Great American on its
Math and Science Day! Students’ tickets will be mailed to them in advance and they may visit the park any
time between 9:00 am and 5:00pm. Parents may purchase tickets for themselves and additional siblings at
the entrance to the park for the discounted rate of $24.00.
abcteach.com
Subscription to website with printable educational materials, worksheets, etc. Available from Union Lake,
MI.
Academy of Science For Kids, LLC
8. Little Professor Science Kits are a hands-on
on approach to learning science. Each kit is a complete
Science kits for grades 1-8.
curriculum with on-line
line test, degree & diploma. Provided from Palm Harbor, FL.
Adam Hamlin
Folsom Karate Academy - Karate Lessons provided in Folsom.
Ancil Hoffman Golf Course
Golf Instruction provided in Carmichael.
Anns Books
Educational materials for K-12: Bilingual Books Inc., Holt McDougal, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Klutz,
Precious Memories Educational Resources, Saxon Home School & Usborne Books. Materials provided from Colfax.
Bechthold Publications
Signs for Sounds, a program for teaching phonics through spelling. Designed by a reading specialist & psychologist. Available
from San Bruno, CA.
Carrie R. Melashenko
Carrie’s Music Studio Kindermusik - Music lessons & home music materials for Kindergarten
through seven years old in Oroville.
City of Rocklin
Classes offered through the Parks & Recreation Department in Rocklin.
Creative Teaching Press
Resource for educational materials for K-8 for the classroom. Located in Huntington Beach.
Diane J. Wood
Shen-Wood Art Studio - Glass art classes & private lessons provided in Folsom. Fusing, Historically, fused glass was made by
Europeans during the Renaissance period as well as the ancient Egyptians.
Educational Maps and Globes, LLC
Variety of classroom wall maps, atlases & globes for all grade levels. Provided from in Kenmore , WA.
Faith Lorraine Keeffe
Creative writing classes provided in Auburn.
Gail J. Bisho
Wikum-Bisho Piano Studio - Piano Lessons provided in Citrus Heights.
Gary D. Embree
Freedom Driving School - specializing in providing driver instruction to students in Placer County, Sacramento County &
surrounding regions. Offering safe & reliable driver education & behind the wheel driver training.
George D. Massick
Massick Driving School - Drivers Education (classroom), Drivers Education (online), & Driver Training (behind the wheel)
provided in Colfax.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Supplemental
The four imprints of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Supplemental Publishers, Great Source, Rigby, Saxon & Steck–Vaughn, offer
affordable, curriculum–based supplemental, & core resources from Pre–K to 12th grade for parents, students & teachers.
Provided from Orlando, FL.
Igor Veligan
Young Talents Music School - Violin Lessons provided in Sacramento.
Janell Frangel
Sewing Lessons offered in Sacramento.
Jennifier Androkitis
Hands in Motion - Jennifier & Chris Androkitis provide a variety of classes: American Sign Language, PE, Woodworking,
Computer, Hands on Science, Human Anatomy available in Granite Bay.
Joanna Yanez
A+ Learning - Tutoring Math and Spanish grades level K-HS Math includes Pre-algebra, Algebra 1 & 2, and up to Pre-calculus
Math. Meeting in students homes or public meeting places in the Sacramento area. Small group study available.
Joyce Herzog Enterprises Inc.
Scaredy Cat Reading Program, a phonics based reading program.
Kidnexions
Financial Classes for Kids: creating saving savvy & money smart kids. Teaches steps to put your kids in
charge of their financial futures. Located in Rocklin.
Lisa Brewer
Gold Country Food Company - Cooking classes for K-12 (chefs in training): cooking techniques, culinary terms, menu planning,
food safety, table manners & nutrition. Provided in Colfax.
Michael Sean Oneill
ONeills Karate - Karate lessons in Sacramento/Rancho Cordova area.
Niles Biological
Supplier of life science & biology materials. Located in Sacramento.
Sacramento Area Youth Golf Association
First Tee of Greater Sacramento - Golf instruction & golf camps for ages 5-17 in Sacramento. Sessions
incorporate life skills, values & core words into golf drills.
Sacramento Childrens Chorus
Professional Music Instruction- Children’s Choir for ages 7-18 in Sacramento.
Shirlee J. Rickman
Suzuki Piano Basics offered in Fair Oaks.
Steven Lee Liberti
Pocket Productions - Drum set & Percussion Lessons in Folsom.
TLC Stables Inc.
Horseback riding lessons provided in Roseville.
Ultimate Fitness
Physical Education - Mixed Martial Arts Classes in Sacramento.
Uncle Jers Traveling Bee Show
Science 45 Minute Bee Hive Presentation. Provided in Sacramento.
Valerie Ann Halpin
Passion for Patchwork - Beginning & Intermediate sewing & quilting classes for ages 10 & up. It is best if
student has a sewing machine to bring to class. Classes provided in Yuba City.
REMOVED VENDORS
Cyber Ed, Inc.
Wise Owl, The
Worm Farm, The
20 Minute Kite!
This kite is perfect for home school use or as an easy summer craft for kids. Each kite is made from one piece
of ordinary printer paper. You can use plain paper, colored paper, or decorate white paper prior to making the
kites.
Material list:
• 1 sheet of brightly colored 8 1/2" x 11" typing paper.
• 1 8" bamboo bar-b-que shishkabob stick.
• 1 roll of florescent surveyor's flagging plastic tape (available at any hardware
store). A plastic bag cut in a 1" wide spiral all around will also make a great tail.
• 1 roll 1/2"wide masking tape or any type of plastic tape..
• 1 roll of string. (6 to 10 feet for each child.)
• 1 piece of 1"x 3" cardboard per child on which to wind the string.
• Scissors.
• Hole punch. (optional)
Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Fold a sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" paper in half to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".
Fold again along the diagonal line A in Fig.2
Fold back one side forming kite shape in Fig.3 and place tape firmly along fold line AB.(No stick is needed
here because the fold stiffens the paper and acts like a spine.)
Place bar-b-que stick from point C to D and tape it down firmly.
Cut off 6 to 10 feet of plastic ribbon and tape it to the bottom of the kite at B.
Flip kite over onto its back and fold the front flap back and forth until it stands straight up.(Otherwise it
acts like a rudder and the kite spins around in circles.)
Punch a hole in the flap at E, about 1/3 down from the top point A.
Tie one end of the string to the hole and wind the other end onto the cardboard string winder.
Interested in adding a little science?
Check out this website: http://wings.avkids.com/Curriculums/Vehicles/kite_summary.html