feb2002.htm

Community Newsletter February 2002

Greetings from Glenn...

This is the time of the year that schools become involved in planning and developing a budget for the upcoming school year. For CLC this is a very important time. As a young organization we are still growing, learning from and improving our educational program. As we become involved in planning, it is important that we target areas where improvements will best serve our community.

Last year at this time the faculty and staff worked to articulate the job descriptions for lead, assistant and math teaching positions. In looking back on these efforts I can say with certainty that these efforts paid off. This year our efforts will focus on the reexamination of positions not in terms of their responsibilities, but in terms of their sustainability. Simply put, are there strategies that we can put into place that will reduce stress and increase the effectiveness of staff at CLC? These needs are real and I have asked that our budget development process this year address these needs.

Related to this focus of sustainability, it is also necessary for our community to take a closer look at the CAO position in order to clearly define the scope of the position and the qualifications needed to fill this role successfully. To this end, I requested the CLC Board begin the search for a headmaster with the administrative background and expertise required to move the CLC into the next phase of its growth. It is my opinion that the CLC needs a transformational leader that possesses the understanding and capability to develop long term financial solutions, one that can develop strong consensus among the teaching staff, one that has experience in working with matters related to board policy and functions, school logistics, understands the development of successful public relations, has experience dealing with discipline cases and can effectively direct staff to handle the wide range of issues that our school confronts on a daily basis. I am dedicated to working through these and other issues as our community defines them. I remain a committed and reflective candidate in this process.

This spring we will be reflecting upon the way in which we go about life here at CLC. It is very clear to me that what we do at CLC works. We need to work together to make sure it lasts!

-Glenn

Team News and Updates
8th grade
Eighth graders are working with WPSX Television to produce a documentary that examines transitions, beginnings and ends. Over the next few months, the creative team at CLC Studios will use video to explore topics ranging from the birth of a school to the final resting place of an automobile. CLCS and WPSX hope to premier the documentary in the summer of 2002. Eighth graders will be visiting WPSX on Friday, February 1st to present segment ideas to WPSX's staff. Thanks go out to Jean Morrow (Chris' Mom) who has been our special teacher/mentor/advisor on this project. Her experience with film is proving invaluable.

Eighth graders are also busy meeting with the counseling teams in their home districts in order to schedule for high school next year. See Mark's site or CLC's main site for more information on transition services.

Team 3
Greetings ! Another round of independent projects is coming to an end for Team Three. February 8, 2002 is the final deadline for Team Three students to complete their project and get it in. The semi-independent project will immediately follow, and will include the entire pod. To find more information on this project, see "Semi-Independent Project" at Michael's website.
Team 3 is also hard at work on their next project block - World History and World Culture with Theresa and Andy. During the first part of the project, students are sharing their observations, beliefs, and opinions as they try to understand what led up to the events on Sept. 11 as well as what has occurred since then.

Team 4
A week ago, Team 4 dove right into the Movements Project by viewing a couple of documentaries on the Civil Rights Movement. We watched as the Little Rock Nine fought against segregation to the events that led up to the March on Washington. The documentaries helped spark spirited class discussion, and proved a great way to ignite enthusiam in the students to begin their own study in movements. Mike and Kelly are pleased with the variety of movements being researched:
-Children's Rights
-Women's Rights
-Tibet
-Zapatista
-Civil Rights
-India (Ghandi)

Currently, Team 4 is finishing up the first part of the Movements Project: Timeline and Events Posters. On February 1, the students will begin part two of the project: The Movements Magazine. They will be creating a magazine about their movement, complete with editorial and opinion articles, feature articles, political cartoons, and advertisements. Part two should be a great time for the creative juices to flow, and for each group's hard work and subject knowledge to come together in a magazine. Mike and Kelly are quite excited to see what neat things Team 4 will accomplish. For more information on the Movements Projects, please see Michael Weitzel's website via CLC's Team Pages link.

Team 5
The newest development in Team 5 is a partnership with the Centre County Convention and Visitors Bureau. As one facet of their Journeys Project, Team 5 will divide into planning groups to fashion user-friendly visitor packets targeting the most often heard requests by travelers to the Centre Region. Planning groups will receive their assignments from the CCCVB Executive Director during a conference at the new Visitors Center. CCCVB is prepared to market packets that adhere to their organization's guidelines and reflect a quality worthy of sharing with the general public.
Riding alongside this challenge will be the development of (innovative, we hope!) personal time-lines AND reflections about our own journey as a team as inspired by Coach "K" (LEADING WITH THE HEART) of Duke University fame.

Team 6
Each member of Team 6 has just been accepted as a first year student at the CLC Medical School. Their first medical class is called: The 3-D Cell City Challenge. In this course, the students are exploring cells, the basic building blocks of life. After mastering this concept, the students will take: Human Body Systems - 101, in which the team will explore basic human body systems and the diseases that attack them. They will be creating an educational ad, music video, skit, TV commercial, web site, poster or pamphlet that includes information about relevant diseases, symptoms, treatments and preventive health care for the various human body systems. Each student will also be developing a personal wellness plan. In addition to this new project, each member of Team 6 continues to develop their autobiography. The students are developing wonderful reflections on their lives.

Project Care is also taking shape. Team 6 students have begun to explore how to contribute to their Centre County community. The idea is to develop a Project Care web site highlighting the variety of volunteer activities which Team 5 and Team 6 are planning to do and/or are involved in. We hope that the CLC community will look to the site as a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities. Let us know what volunteer opportunities are available and/or needs of which you are aware. We appreciate your input.

February Parent Meeting - Thursday, Feb. 21, 7:00
This month's meeting will focus on the issue of sustainablility. We will meet in Joe's room to start and then break into smaller discussion groups by team or pod.

February Board Meeting - Thursday, Feb. 28, 7:00

Peer Mediation
Plans for starting a Peer Mediation Program at CLC are well underway. Intern, Rachel Neuhard, and School Guidance Counselor, Kim Rimmey, will be attending a 3-day training workshop in February. Two informational meetings for interested students will be held on Tuesday, February 19th and Thursday, February 21st from 3:00 to 3:30. We ask that all interested students plan on attending at least one of these meetings. Welcome

Resource Library
Currently, intern Rachel Neuhard, is working on a resource library for parents, teachers and students on important adolescent issues. The library will be completed by the end of this year and will be located in the office at CLC. If you have any requests for specific topics, please email Rachel at rmn120@psu.edu.

CLC Yearbook
It's time for work on the yearbook to begin! Next Wednesday, February 6 and Thursday, February 7, interested students are asked to meet after school for an informational/organizational meeting. Students only need to attend one of these days, and the meeting should last until about 4:15 PM. How can parents help? We would like to start collecting pictures for inclusion in the yearbook. If you have any photographs you think we would find useful (dance pictures, field trips, etc.) please put your student's name and team number on the back, so we can return them to you when we are finished. Also parents are welcome to attend our first meeting and any thereafter. If you would like to help or have any questions, please email jalynn@clccharter.org.

Music Lessons
Frank Flarkey, our after school music instructor, has openings for more students on Thursday afternoons. Instruction is available for beginning or ongoing students of trumpet, flute, clarinet, French horn, saxophone, trombone, and other band instruments. If you are interested or would like additional information, please call Frank directly at (814)941-5030.

Taekwando
The first Taekwando class just tested for their orange belts on Thursday and it was an amazing sight! They did a fantastic job. These students will continue with classes, but Jeff is also ready to start a new class of students. If your child is interested in starting Taekwando after school on Thursdays, please request a registration form from the office on Monday, Feb. 4. This form will explain the cost and requirements for the class. New students will begin classes on Feb. 7.

Scholastic Book Order
Just a reminder that order forms went home in last week's Friday folder and are due back on Monday, Feb. 4.

 

Girl Scouts
We have an opportunity to start a Girl Scout troop at CLC and are wondering if there is interest within our community. If your daughter would like to participate in scouting, please let M.J. know so that we can get the troop organized. (I'm for anything that gives me more opportunities to buy Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies! )

Health Screening Referrals
Health screenings went smoothly last Monday, but there are several students who have received a referral for further testing of their hearing or sight or for scoliosis. If your child is being referred, there will be a form in this week's Friday folder.

Wish List

Ping Pong table	Hot Air Popcorn Popper	Toaster Oven
Blenders	Vacuum	Current News Magazines

Arts Block Reminders
Students currently in Mask Making with Michelle need to bring in found material (acorns, yarn, buttons, etc.) for their project .
Photography students are reminded to bring in film or money to reimburse the school for next week's class. And, 8th graders who missed this week's class should shoot a roll of film before the next class.

Winter Clothing Reminder
A reminder to make sure your children are appropriately dressed for the cold weather when they leave the house in the morning. We do take students outside for recess and after school throughout the winter. Also, please remember to write their name on the tag of their jackets, gloves, hats, etc. so that when these items are left behind in the big room (and, inevitably, they will be at some point this winter) they can be returned to your child.

Fundraising
There are several ways to support the CLC besides direct donations. Please keep the following in mind:
Boxtops for Education - Each boxtop from eligible General Mills products is worth 10 cents to the CLC.
GreaterGood.com -This is an online shopping service with more than 10 leading online retailers (including Amazon.com, PetsMart.com, Lands' End, CVS.com, priceline,com, Spiegel.com) that allows customers to donate five percent or more of every purchase to a selected nonprofit organization. Simply go to http://www.GreaterGood.com, choose us as your cause, and choose the store or product you wish to shop for.
Target credit card users may designate the CLC to receive one percent of the value of all purchases made with their card. This designation can be made at the time you get your card, or may be changed or added at any time through customer service at Target.
Weis Preferred Shopper Cards can now benefit CLC. 1% of purchases made when using your card will come to the school. All you need to do is to go to the customer service desk at Weis and register your card with the Centre Learning Community.

Calendar

Feb. 6 and 7	Informational Meeting for Yearbook Committee - 3:00
Feb. 7	State College High School Elective Showcase
Feb. 8	Valentine's Dance - 6-10 p.m.
Feb. 11	Bellefonte 8th graders visit high school
Feb. 18	Act 80 Day - NO SCHOOL
Feb. 19 and 20	Informational Meeting for Yearbook Committee - 3:00
Feb. 21	Parent Meeting - 7 p.m.
Feb. 25-March 1	Transition Week
Feb. 28	Board Meeting 7 p.m.
March 4-8	SPRING BREAK! No School