Welcome everyone to the beginning of 2012-13 and my first Director’s Notes. I will get these out most every Tuesday as a way to communicate all-school information. If you have something you feel should be included, please let me know by each Monday.

Our Back to School Night was very successful; parent participation was just over 90% (Wow!). Many thanks for showing up and being present.

The year has started very well and we are all very excited to work with our new crews. Our first Friday Community Meeting was well attended; students paired up with their different grade level buddies and we honored our Distinguished Crew Members (students 4th grade and up who consistently demonstrate excellence in academics and character) from last semester.

Some important information/dates coming up:

  • Fieldwork season is now so please make sure you help out volunteering/driving and have all your child’s paperwork in on time.

  • We have exhausted our 7th grade wait list and have 2 openings. Please let others who might be interested know; without a wait list, enrollment is first come, first in.

  • Board Meeting, Monday Sept 10, from 6-9 pm in M-4. These meetings are open to all and provide a great way to know more about and participate in the larger school decisions. Feel free to come and lend your support and ideas.

  • There are openings on the Board for those interested in helping shape school policy decisions. Please contact me for application materials.

  • Our electives program starts this week. Parent volunteers have been asking about reimbursement for materials; this is something we will need to figure out as the program develops. First, try to do things inexpensively: ask for donations from businesses/others; borrow equipment/materials (like the request below); see what the school has; use old/recycled products. That said, please talk to me if there is a need for reimbursement. If the cost is low and/or it is something our school can later use, we may be able to accommodate. We do not, however, have much budget for this and are hoping we can develop the program to operate with few expenses.

  • Elective request: Denise Paquette, our new ELD Coordinator, is offering ceramics and is looking for more tools [modeling tools, sponges (w/o abrasive side), rolling pins (small), and anything that would give texture to clay (screens, netting, etc.].  Please let her know if you are able to lend anything – it would be greatly appreciated! Contact her at: dpaquette@truckeecharterschool.org

  • Chorus starts next week, Sept 11 from 3:30-4:30. Sept 11 and 18 will be all interested students, K-5. Sept 21 they will perform at Peace Day (more info on that later). Starting Sept 25, Chorus will alternate weeks, starting with K-2 (Sept 25, K-2; Oct 2, 3-5, Oct 9, K-2; Oct 16, 3-5 and so on). There is no cost to this program, but please make sure your child has extras snacks for after school.

  • Reminder: The Sierra Stars program from 7:30-9 am has space available. Drop off anytime between 7:30-8. Cost is $6/day or $3/day for Free/Reduced qualified families. Please contact Heidi Andresen with questions: handresen@truckeecharterschool.org

  • Volunteer help still needed. Admin is looking for tech help in particular (on-call consultation, occasionally coming in and helping with hardware/updates/etc.); could also use on-call maintenance help and someone to coordinate the Electives Program (compiling student requests and placing into offered courses – happens once every 5 wks). If several people offer to help with tech and maintenance then we hope the shared load will make it work better with everyone’s time constraints.

PTC

SELS Parent Teacher Crew (PTC) First Meeting is Monday, September 17th at 5pm in M-2. Kids can play outside.

This is an important meeting as we need to establish a committee to create the SELS Signature Event, recruit a no-cost fundraiser chair, assign a few other chairs and discuss needs for the upcoming Bear Walk on 10/31. All of these bring in much needed money for our school so your help is critical to our success. If you cannot attend but are interested in helping, please email ptc@truckeecharterschool.org. Note: PTC meetings will be the second Monday of every month unless otherwise noted.

No-Cost Fundraising in which you can participate:

  • Save-Mart: please grab a SHARES card in the library if you don’t have one

  • Safeway: sign up your Safeway card for eScrip. Applications online or information sheet in library. Renew your account online

  • Box Tops: be sure to bring them in and place them in tupperware labeled on library shelf just inside the door

  • Spirit wear: get your orders in, manilla envelop on wall inside the library

Remember that if you have ideas, questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact me so we can discuss them. Again, welcome to the new school year and all the wonderful learning, growing, and experiencing we all look forward to.

David Manahan