December/January
Parent Newsletter
Progress
reports mailed to parents week of November 12
Student
progress reports were mailed the week of November 12.
Because the school is transitioning to a new database, it has taken
longer than anticipated to get these reports out to parents.
We apologize for the delay.
There
are a few important things to note about the new progress reports:
-
Second,
if your student’s progress report showed a NG for no grade,
it means they have not produced enough work in the class for the teacher to
make a fair evaluation on the student’s progress.
No grades are a cause for serious concern, because it means
the student is severely jeopardizing his/her chance at earning credit in
that class, if academic efforts do not improve.
A grade of NG will translate into a failing grade on the final
report card if no improvement is made.
Parent
conferences set for February 26-27, 2003
Community
Schoolhouse parent conferences will be held February 26-27, 2003 at the
school. The conferences will be scheduled individually with each parent and
student beginning in late January or early February.
The conferences will be an important time to meet with your student’s
advisor and teachers to assess your student's progress.
If, at any time, you would like to touch base with staff or have
questions before then, simply call 503-763-8958 or email your student’s
advisor or teacher(s) directly. For
a staff email directory, please go to: http://www.communityschoolhouse.org/school_staff.htm
End-of-term
project to focus on school-wide theme
At
the end of each term, the Community Schoolhouse suspends new instruction for one
to two weeks and focuses on a school-wide integrated project. These end-of-term
projects focus on the school's year-long theme and allows students to
demonstrate -- both individually and in small groups -- their knowledge and
skills in all curriculum areas. These projects frequently incorporate a
service learning or community-based aspect and allow students to utilize their
talents in a variety of ways. Examples of past end-of-term projects (for
the previous themes of Adventure, Challenge & Discovery, and Journeys) can
be found at:
http://www.communityschoolhouse.org/Assignments/2002-2003%20Assignments.htm
This
year, the school-wide theme is inspiration. Staff is currently writing
this year's first end-of-term project, which will begin December 2. The
project will be available for review by parents and students the week of
Thanksgiving at:
http://www.communityschoolhouse.org/Assignments/2002-2003%20Assignments.htm
This
year, due to increased postage costs and current and pending budget cutbacks,
the school will not be mailing home a copy of the end-of-term project. If you
would like a copy, please send a note with your student and the school will
provide them with an extra copy to take home.
School
seeks parents for group to support school projects, needs
Community
Schoolhouse parents interested in forming a parent group to support school
projects and needs are encouraged to attend a kick-off meeting on Monday,
December 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the school. Representatives
of the successful Cougar Foundation, a parent group at Cascade High School, will
be available to answer questions on forming and operating a similar program at
the Community Schoolhouse.
The
school is organizing the parent group to assist with and coordinate fundraising
projects, coordinate school events and activities (such as the
graduation/year-end celebration), generate in-kind contributions (such as
equipment, supplies and services), and provide additional staff support. A
member of the Community Schoolhouse staff and Board of Directors will
also assist the parent group.
For
more information, please contact Tom DeJardin, executive director, at
503-763-8958.
Budget
cutbacks force discontinuation of transportation scholarships
Due
to current and pending budget cutbacks, the Community Schoolhouse is
discontinuing Cherriots bus pass scholarships for students. Effective
November 27, complimentary youth bus passes will no longer be available to Community
Schoolhouse students. Students/families
will still be able to purchase the $15 monthly youth bus passes – or partial
month passes – at the school or the Salem Transit Center. Checks should be
made payable to The Community Schoolhouse (NOT the Salem Area Transit
District).
Oregon's
charter school law does not require schools to provide transportation services
to students. However, during its first two years of operation, the Community
Schoolhouse provided complimentary Cherriots bus passes to all students,
resulting in an annual cost of approximately $20,000.
Board
updates enrollment & lottery policy
The
Community Schoolhouse Board of Directors formally approved an updated
enrollment and lottery policy at its November 4th meeting.
The new expanded policy, effective December 1, 2002, continues to align
with Oregon's charter school law (SB100). Additional
questions about the school's enrollment and lottery policy (shown below), should
be directed to Tom DeJardin, executive director, at 503-763-8958 or tom@communityschoolhouse.org.
ENROLLMENT
& LOTTERY POLICY
Applications
for enrollment at the Community Schoolhouse are accepted throughout the
year. However, new students are not selected during the current year
unless openings become available. If openings occur during the current year, a
random lottery is held from the pool of available applicants. The lottery
pool is not ranked according to when applications are submitted.
An
Open Enrollment period is conducted each spring – with an initial application
deadline of April 30 – for available openings for the following school year.
At that time, if applications exceed the number of positions available, the
school will utilize a random lottery system based on state law. Based on the
number of students electing not to enroll, an additional lottery may be held in
early summer for all the newly available spaces. The school will then maintain a
waiting list/lottery pool during the school year.
The
lottery will be governed by the following rules:
-
The spring lottery for available openings for the following school year will
be conducted by May 15 from the waiting list of interested applicants for
spaces available. Applications submitted after April 30 will not be included
in the initial lottery.
-
Students successfully completing the prior school year are automatically
allowed entrance at the start of the school year.
Returning students must complete a Returning Student Enrollment Form
by June 1 to ensure their space for the following year.
-
If a student attending the
Community Schoolhouse successfully completes the school year – and has
a sibling(s) who desires to attend – preference will be given so the
family members can attend the same school the following school year
if spaces are available. Families must indicate on the Returning Student
Enrollment Form (for their current student) that a sibling wishes to attend
the following year. An enrollment application for the sibling may be
submitted at that time.
-
Siblings of current students
will not be allowed to enroll at the school during the current year unless
they are selected in a random lottery.
-
Former
Community Schoolhouse students who transfer to a different school
will not be allowed to re-enroll at the Community Schoolhouse unless
they are selected in a random lottery. The former student must re-submit an
application to be included in the lottery pool.
-
Siblings of students who transfer to a different school will not be allowed
to enroll at the school unless they are selected in a random lottery.
-
Siblings of graduates who completed the prior school year at the Community
Schoolhouse are allowed to enroll at the school for the following year.
-
A waiting list/lottery pool will be maintained throughout the school year. The
waiting list is not ranked according to when applications are submitted.
All eligible applicants remain in the lottery pool for the next
available lottery drawing. Lottery drawings are conducted throughout the
year as space(s) become available.
-
There will be no restrictions in
the admissions process based upon ethnicity, national origin, disability,
gender, sexual orientation, income level or proficiency in English.
Winter
vacation schedule
The
final day of the fall term for students at the Community Schoolhouse is
Thursday, December 12. Friday,
December 13 is a grading day for teachers.
The
three-week winter break runs from Monday, December 16 through Friday, January 3,
2003. Students are to report back
for the start of winter term on Monday, January 6, 2003.
 Instructional
Updates
SCIENCE
& SOCIETY
Red
& Blue Groups:
Students
in the Red or Blue groups of Science & Society have recently finished up
their Planet
Under Pressure contract, which
includes an in-depth study on developed and developing nations. Individual
student grades for this unit can be seen at www.mygradebook.com.
Students
are now focusing on an Introduction
to Economics contract.
Green
Group:
Accompanying
Ryan Kinnett’s Environmental Stewardship course, Andrew and Molly are teaching
the green group every Friday. Students
are earning Global Issues (social studies) credit through their participation in
the course. Lessons pivot around
the concept of Stewardship and have focused so far on Democracy, the Elections,
Generations, Hope, and Change. The
Global Issues Stewardship contract and assignments can be found at:
http://www.communityschoolhouse.org/scienceandsociety2002-2003.htm
Environmental
Stewardship: (Green Group)
For
the past several weeks the class has been studying local watershed issues,
primarily on Pringle Creek. Students
have taken several trips out to Pringle Park, the main study site on Pringle
Creek, and taken various water quality samples. Students are compiling this data for the Adopt-A-Stream
program for the City of Salem. In
addition, the data they collect will eventually lead to the identification of an
environmental issue, for which students will explore various means of
remediation. The Earth Force:
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) is serving as the guide
for this educational and experiential process.
This process empowers students to become aware of meaningful
environmental issues and bring long-term improvements to the way people view and
treat water resources in the community.
Other
class activities have included various restoration projects around the
community:
____________________
MATH
& TECHNOLOGY
Math
- Red & Blue Blocks:
-
In
Rick Schindler’s and Ryan Kinnett’s Introductory Geometry/Applied Math
half of red block and blue block (respectively), students have been
investigating the basic building blocks of geometry.
Students are studying line and angle relationships, polygons in
general, and specific properties of triangles and quadrilaterals.
Independent math projects spanning the fall term material will begin
shortly.
-
Diane
Millican is teaching the other half of red and blue blocks.
The Fundamentals of Math class is working with decimals, place value
and exponents. Each student
receives the assignments for the week at the beginning of class on Monday.
Also, staff is using a Mental Math series.
This is a daily set of 10 problems.
The problems are read to the students and they quickly write down the
answers. This seems to be
working well as a way of focusing the students as soon as class begins.
Following that is a short introductory lesson for the whole class or a short
review lesson from the previous day’s instruction.
Students then begin working in their textbooks and folders.
Due to the limited number of textbooks, pages are photo-copied for
students to take home if they need to complete assignments as homework.
Jamee Jakes (instructional assistant) and Diane have committed to
being available each Tuesday after school to work with students who are
behind in their work. Parents will be
notified each Friday.
Math
- Green Block:
-
In
Rick’s Advanced Algebra course, students have completed an extensive unit
on sequences. Currently, the
students are learning about measures of center and variability, histograms,
and percentiles. Soon students
will begin independent projects encompassing all of the course material
covered to date.
-
For
Rick’s class of two in the independent study of Statistics, the students
recently completed the data collection phase on political literacy of
downtown residents and merchants of Salem.
The students are now compiling and analyzing the data while learning
the fundamentals of calculating and displaying statistics.
-
Diane
is teaching a third of green block. Several
students have started the Boxer Math program through SK Online.
This program is more challenging and allows students to move at their
own pace. The students who are
not in Boxer math are continuing to work with the regular Algebra program.
These students have committed to due dates in that all of packet 3
will be available for grading as of December 1.
Mark Troseth is teaching the use of graphing calculators each Friday
to the entire class. To assist
with this, the school now has two volunteers from Willamette University.
They are available to work with any student who needs more
individualized help with any component of the Algebra instruction.
-
In
Ryan’s Inductive Geometry class for the green block, students have been
learning how to use geometric tools, focusing on the use of the compass.
In the previous chapter, they learned many of the geometry basics:
line and angle relationships, polygons in general, and specific properties
of triangles and quadrilaterals. Now
they are learning how to construct these using only a compass.
In addition, the class had a project that required them to
problem-solve the construction of an object using the compass.
Technology:
-
For
technology, students have been mastering the navigation of the Web-based
gradebook, www.mygradebook.com.
The teaching staff at the Community Schoolhouse is using the
Web site this year to help students and parents keep track of student
progress in their classes at any time.
In order to check on progress, go onto the Internet and log in at www.mygradebook.com
as a student or parent. Click
on "Multiple Class Login." At
this point, you will need a primary ID and password.
Students will have received their primary ID and password in their
math/tech block at school. They
should have a written record of it. If
you still have not received your child’s password information, please call
your child’s advisor at the Schoolhouse.
-
Some
students have also been learning the computer application tool called
Geometer’s Sketchpad. The
application uses computer-simulated drawing tools to help students learn
geometric concepts.
-
Students
are also refining their basic software application skills with Microsoft
Word and Excel through coursework in their classes.
____________________
LANGUAGE
ARTS
Red
and Blue Blocks:
The
winter term has focused primarily on writing.
Staff has encouraged the journaling process and is pleased at the number
of students who have given glimpses into their school and personal lives.
Along with receiving a scattering of grammar lessons on “conventions”
– paragraphs, commas and spelling – students have written a tabloid article
and a newspaper article, as well as having discussed and written about personal
values.
Music
is another big part of the students’ lives, so the class embarked on a few
lessons focusing on characterization through music. Using
song lyrics and “practiced” drama skills, students “characterized” a
song in front of the class with the help of a prop and their own creativity.
After
watching the jury room drama called 12 Angry Men, students are now
finishing up their own courtroom drama involving school issues such as cheating,
stealing, smoking and j-walking. The
jury is still out. Also, watch for a short story unit coming soon to a classroom
near you.
Green
Block:
Journaling
has started many a class block for this group. The starting point in Humanities
class is grounding in some of the basics. Shakespeare
(the movie Looking for Richard, a documentary based on the making
of Richard III), music reviews (critical analyses of music styles teamed with an
oral report), and creative writing (diversity and intolerance short stories)
have brought students up to the present. Now
students are involved in having teams of students, or individuals, make a poetry
portfolio. Ask your student to see some of their work.
Staff is very impressed.
The
movie and subsequent activities surrounding Billy Budd are yet to
come.
____________________
WELLNESS
& THE COMMUNITY
Make
a Difference Day
Thanks
to students Robert Bridwell, Becca Kauss, and Amanda Reynolds,
the Community Schoolhouse will be enjoying some beautiful tulips in front
of the school this spring. In
October, these students spent an afternoon cleaning out two of the planters on
the sidewalk in front of our school and planting bulbs.
We look forward to the color these flowers will provide this spring.
Christina
Wise received special kudos last month
for her volunteer work with Ms. Christy Davis at Walker Middle School on Make a
Difference Day. Ms. Davis stopped
by the Community Schoolhouse to personally tell staff how much she
appreciated the work Christina did with her middle school home economics
students. According to this teacher, the day Christina volunteered with her
“was the best Friday this year!” Good
work Christina!
Mexican
Consulate Project
 Saturday,
November 16th was a busy day for a group of 12 Community
Schoolhouse students who volunteered their time providing childcare for
parents meeting with the Mexican Consulate at Waldo Middle School.
Sandra Velasquez helped organize the project and was assisted by
the following students: Erica Leon, Allie Haertel, Dan Leon, Mary Velasquez,
Cheryl Gesner, Bryan Stephens, Melina Martinez, Circe Baraza, Roxana Morgan, A.J.
Newcomb and Montserrat Rodriguez.
Individual
Service Projects
Noe
Ramirez, Erica Leon, Jose Lopez and Guillermo Benitez are all
volunteering their time at Grant Community School tutoring students in several
different classrooms. The teachers
at Grant are happy to have the students’ help and are receiving excellent
feedback. Anna Kinsey, Ciarra
Lara, Jesse Jeffers and Juan Munoz are scheduled to begin
volunteering at Grant very soon. Other students volunteering in local schools
for their service project are Kenny Killebrew, Sean Dunne, Starfish
Bingenheimer, and Terrence Spence.
Thank
you to all of these students for helping out in the community.
Your work is appreciated!
Tis
The Season Project
Twenty-eight
Community Schoolhouse students have banded together to contribute money
and gifts to a Salem family in need of assistance this holiday season.
The students will be providing four young children and their mother with
a variety of toys, clothes, shoes, food and other necessities to help make their
holiday one to remember!
It
is not too late to get involved in this service project.
If you would like to donate to this project, please contact Heather
Burns at 503-763-8958.
Special
Note to Parents:
All
Community Schoolhouse students have been offered the opportunity to begin
a service project that can provide them with a minimum of ½ credit this school
year. If your son or daughter
intends to take advantage of completing a service project this year, they need
to speak with Heather Burns before the end of fall term to begin
the process. Please talk with your
son or daughter to remind them that this opportunity is available and must be
started soon!
____________________
 INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOLHOUSE
Students
have been mastering various software applications: Word, PowerPoint, and FrontPage.
By winter break, all students should have a published Web site containing
information about themselves and a framework for their involvement in the International
Schoolhouse. The students have
also made a list of priorities and brainstormed ways of stimulating the
international framework of the International
Schoolhouse. From this they
have been trying to connect with students in partnering countries, have
initiated studies on the Willamette River that will serve as the primary focus
of local action and community education projects, and are trying to get involved
with various community service projects. Students
attended restoration projects at Cannery Park and Pringle Creek on Make A
Difference Day.
____________________
LINK
LEADERSHIP
The
Link Leadership team is continuing to learn the people skills needed to handle
peer-mentoring situations. Role-playing,
hypothetical situations involving the school, and listening skills are a
constant focus. The group is continuing to recycle paper and bottles in an
effort to keep the school as “green” as possible. Link Leadership’s next
endeavor will be a holiday food drive.
Students
participate in ropes course teambuilding activity
 Community
Schoolhouse students once
again participated in a fun and exhilarating teambuilding activity October 1-4
at Youth With A Mission (YWAM) ropes course in south Salem.
The ropes course is a variety of obstacles designed to encourage
participants to work together in order to accomplish specific goals.
Each element is made up of various cables, wooden beams, ropes, tires,
and surrounding trees. The elements
encourage the development of trust, teamwork, confidence, cooperation,
perseverance, communication and interdependence.
On
each of the four days (Oct. 4), approximately one-third of the school’s
students traveled to YWAM to participate in ropes course high and low element
activities. The day began with a
quick overview of activities designed to build confidence and awareness among
teams of 8-10 students and staff. Groups
then moved outside where three or four teams rotated activities for the
remainder of the day.
For
more photos and student reflections on this exciting teambuilding activity,
please go to: http://www.communityschoolhouse.org/ropes_course_review.htm
Community
Schoolhouse welcomes new teacher
 The
Community Schoolhouse welcomed Gwen Lyman as its new Special
Education teacher in October. Gwen
replaces Karla Tibbits, who transferred to Sprague High School.
Gwen
has 20 years of teaching and counseling experience at the secondary level.
Her experiences include designing and teaching model community-based Life Skills
programs at Coquille and Marshfield High Schools in Coos County. At
Thurston High School in Springfield she collaborated with another teacher to
develop a social skills/self esteem curriculum for students with learning
disabilities.
Gwen has a master's degree in Special Education and one in School
Counseling. She also has worked for five years in school counseling
positions at Chiloquin Jr./Sr. High School and Taft High School in Lincoln City.
Inclement
weather policy
As
the threat of snowy and icy weather approaches, parents and students should
listen to local radio and television stations to learn of school closures due to
inclement weather.
By
5:15 a.m., District officials make the decision to close or delay the start of
all or selected schools. Key staff
members and news media are then notified immediately.
The School District will provide school closure and delay information to
the news media for broadcasting starting at 6 a.m.
-
Students
must make-up days that are canceled due to weather conditions.
-
People
are encouraged to listen to local news media and not call the school or
school district. This helps the community receive up-to-date, accurate
information very quickly and easily.
PLEASE
NOTE that the media will mention the
Salem-Keizer School District only if there is a delay or closure.
If you do not hear any information, it’s safe to assume that the Community
Schoolhouse is open or has resumed its regular schedule.
Exclusion
day is February 19, 2003
Any
student who does not have up-to-date immunizations by Feb. 19, 2003
will be excluded from school until he/she is properly immunized. Oregon law
requires children who attend school to have proper immunizations.
Your
child can get immunization shots at your doctor’s office or at the Marion
County Health Department. The
Marion County Health Department charges $15 per shot; however, no one will be
denied shots who cannot pay.
Exemptions
from immunizations are available for medical or religious reasons.
Contact
your health care provider or the Marion County Health Department for more
information.
In
the event of an outbreak, students who have medical or religious exemptions may
be excluded from school for their own protection.
For
more information, contact the Marion County Health Department at 503-588-5342 or
visit the Oregon Public Health Services Web
site at www.ohd.hr.state.or.us.
| 
The
21st Century