Community Newsletter February 2001

FebruaryParent/Board Meetings - A New Twist!
As a result of a suggestion made by some of our communitymembers, we're going to try something a little different for thismonth's parent meeting. Instead of our usual hour-long, lecturestyle, informational meeting, we are going try an abbreviatedinformation session and add some informal social time. We'rehoping this gives parents a chance to meet more people, askquestions, share thoughts, and, as a result, build a stronger senseof community. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 22, at7:00 p.m. in the "Big Room". If you would like to donate bakedgoods (cookies, brownies, etc.) for the meeting, please email M.J.(mj@clccharter.org) and let her know by Feb. 20. Our monthly BoardMeeting will start around 8:30 and will be held in Mark'sclassroom.

Bowling
Sadly, ourbowling outing last month had to be canceled due to the weather. Butdon't despair - we've rescheduled it for Friday, March 2. CLC willcover the cost of shoe rentals and bowling at Northland Bowl. We willleave CLC at noon and return around 2:00. If you would like to joinus as a chaperone, please let M.J. know ASAP.

GuestSpeakers
As part of hisindependent project, Nathan A. (Team 1) has arranged for Jake Corman,State Senator and State Representatives Lynn Herman and KerryBenninghoff to speak to the student body about their respective jobsand their positions on the charter school movement. The guests willbe here Wednesday, 2/28, from 1:00-2:30 in the "big room." You arewelcome to join us.

StaffAppreciation Lunch Thank You
We want toextend our thanks to all of our chefs for January and February: KarenBallouk, Collette Rozo, Julie Dillon, Annie Lesieutre, HelgaStokes,Debra Greenleaf, Liz Kisenwether, and Alis Rasmussen. A hugethanks also goes out to Annie and Liz for organizing this monthlytreat for the CLC staff. You're wonderful! Thank you.

FundraisingContributor Missed - Beth Shirey
Last month we announced that we had successfully completed ourmatching gift fundraising campaign and acknowledged the manycontributors in the newsletter. However, we accidentally omitted ourvery first donator, Beth Shirey. Thank you to Beth and her family fortheir generous contribution.

Art Block Update
We are veryexcited about our new and improved Art Block curriculum. Theredesigned program is broken up into 6 week blocks that follow thesame dates as the projects. During each block guest artists willoffer a variety of classes and students will choose one class to takefor the six weeks. During transition week, their art work will be onexhibit for parents and others to see. Currently, Wayne Hansen isteaching Figure Sculpture, Ann Therese Pelikan is teachingWatercolor, Carrie Waterman is teaching Photography I &II, Mark Guenther is teaching Drawing, and Jalynn (team 4)is teaching Fabric Art. The next 6 week block is set and willinclude some repeated offerings, as well as new class choices such asDrumming, Paper making, Performing Art, Sculpture II. Ask yourchild to give you an update on his/her current artproject!

*Note: If your child isplanning to sign-up for Photography I or II during the next projectblock, please be advised he/she will be asked to bring a camera thatshoots 35 mm film (doesn't need to be fancy or expensive) and a rollof film.

CLC Math CountsTeam Rocks!
The CLCsent four students to the 2001 Math Counts competition on the PennState Altoona campus on Saturday, February 3rd and they came awaywinners! Out of the 24 individuals from middle schools in the CentreCounty Region, the CLC's own John L.(team 2) took theindividual overall honors. Coached by Diane Lehman and Brad Sloneker,CLC team members Stephen C. (team 2), Eric D. (team 2)and Adam L. (team 2), along with John, took secondplace in the team competition, just behind the Park Forest firstplace winning team and ahead of Mount Nittany's third place team. CLCwas also awarded a plaque as the Best New School in Centre County andTeam Coach Diane Lehman was honored for her involvement with theteam. Congratulations guys and good luck to John in the statecompetition in Harrisburg in March!

Transition Weekand Exhibition Day
The currentround of projects will end during the last week of February. Theschedule for the week is as follows:
Monday, 2/26, regular day
Tuesday. 2/27, regular morning and literature circle reviewsin the afternoon
Wednesday, 2/28, project exhibition from 9:30-noon and guestspeakers from 1-2:30
Thursday, 3/1, regular "Specials" day with art blockdemonstrations and exhibits throughout the day
Friday, 3/2, regular morning and bowling in the afternoon!
Please stop in and visit during the week and see what's going on!

Jump Rope forHeart
Next week(2/15) during Health & Fitness class, CLC students willparticipate in "Jump Rope for Heart". All collection envelopes andpermission slips are due to Michelle or MJ by Thursday, February15th. The permissions slips get mailed back to the American HeartAssociation so they know how many students participate in the eventand, so they can judge how many coordinator kits (with prize samplesand FREE ropes for all the schools) need to be ordered for next year.It is very helpful to them. The permission slip does not mean thatthe student is collecting money ~ just jumping.
If there are any parents who would like to volunteer and have notcontacted me I still need some help with running the jumping stationsand bringing in snacks for the event. (Quick finger foods such aspretzels, animal crackers… whatever they can eat and then keepplaying.) Snacks can just be sent in the day of or Wednesdayafternoon. Teams 1 & 2 are jumping from 9:30 &endash; 11:30 andTeams 3 & 4 are jumping from 12:15-2:15. Email me atmichelle_footer@hotmail.com if you would like to help. Thanks!
Michelle Richards
Health & Fitness teacher

CLCDocumentary
Jean Morrow(Chris, team 3) is making a short video documentary about CLC whichwe will use to show to prospective families and others who areinterested in learning more about our school. Jean will be tapingbrief interviews (less than 5 minutes) with students and staff overthe next several weeks and would also like to include parents. If youwould like to be involved in this project, Jean will set up to tapeafter the Parent Meeting on Feb. 22. If you will not be at themeeting, but would like to participate, please call Jean or email herat jeanmorrow@post.harvard.edu

Wish List
-MICROWAVES!(lunch gets crazy when most of the 100 students and staff want tomicrowave their lunches between 12 and 12:30!)
-Blender for paper making class
-35 mm cameras
-paint brushes for art classes
-magazines

Dance
The 7thgraders are sponsoring a Valentine's Dance on Saturday, Feb. 17 inthe "Big Room" from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Tickets are $2.00 and can bepurchased during school or at the door the evening of the dance. Theproceeds from the dance will be used to defer the cost of their (8thgrade) class trip next year. If you would like more information orwould like to chaperone, please contact Brittany, Madeleine or Davidfrom team 2.

Calendar

February 15, 7 p.m.	SCASD Elective Showcase and meeting for 8th grade Parents - State College High School South Auditorium
February 17, 6-10 p.m.	Valentine's Dance - "Big Room"
February 18	"Lock-In" for girls in Teams 3 & 4 (overnight in the "Big Room")
February 19	No School - Staff Inservice
February 22, 7 p.m.	Parent/Board Meetings
February 26-March 2	Transition Week
February 28	Exhibition Day and Guest Speakers
March 2, 12-2 p.m.	Bowling
March 5-9	SPRING BREAK - no school