News from Western Sierra Collegiate Academy

The Black and White Winter Ball was another fine example of the culture we are working to create at Western Sierra.
A culture where . . .
�      students come first
�      parents and students are partners and have a voice
�      a small community of dedicated stakeholders can impact a generation for generations
�      parents and staff work side by side to impact student learning and social development
�      students are honored for their hard work and persistence

The dance was one that any parent would be proud to send their student to.   The dance facility was beautifully decorated in black and white d�cor and was well chaperoned by many parents.   The students started the dance with a dinner that was served by staff and parents. Once the meal was over, a dance company modeled ballroom dancing. For some students, that was the first time seeing that form of dancing.   What a treat.   With all of the students gussied up in their black and white attire, they danced and socialized until the very last minute.

Thank you for all of the time, effort, and resources provided by parents and staff to make this event a huge success.

Respectfully,

Steven Carney
WSCA Principal

From the Desk of Dr. Patterson, Executive Director

Rocklin Academy Renewal APPROVED!

The Rocklin Unified Board of Trustees has approved the renewal of Rocklin Academy (Turnstone). This extends our charter until June 30, 2015. As announced last week, the renewal is part of a larger agreement that includes Rocklin Unified dropping its suit against the State Board of Education regarding the approval of Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, and our agreement not to pursue several issues relating to our Prop 39 facility requests.

Thank you for your outstanding support throughout this process.

David Patterson, Ed.D
Executive Director

A Cultural Opportunity For Families

Cultural Opportunity for Families: Chamber Music Alive!

The Sierra College Foundation is in its seventh season of Chamber Music Alive. Chamber Music Alive has established itself as one of the pre-eminent classical music series in the Sacramento area - and they are right in our back yard. The two remaining concerts scheduled for January 31^st and April 18^th. The January 31^st concert will include Beethoven's Sonata for Violin and Piano in F Major, Mozart's String Quintet in G minor, and Mendelssohn's Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in D minor. The April 18^th concert will be a full orchestral program featuring the Virtuosi Orchestra and will be an all-Beethoven program. The concerts are held in the theater at Sierra College. Ticket prices are $30 for general admission and $13 for students. For more information, visit http://www.sierracollege.edu/AboutUs/foundation/chambermusic.html#1.

Do You Have Extra Frequent Flyer Miles?

Western Sierra/Rocklin Academy is requesting donations of your extra frequent flyer miles or coupons. We have an invitation to visit BASIS school in Tucson, Arizona in February. BASIS, a grade 5-12 charter school that opened in 1998, has been consistently named one of the best high schools in the nation by U.S. News and Newsweek. BASIS shares many of the core beliefs of Rocklin Academy and Western Sierra Collegiate Academy. BASIS has recently been featured in the movie Two Million Minutes - a 21st Century Solution. According to the filmmaker Rob Compton, BASIS, " is academically as rigorous as anything I have seen in the world; more rigorous than Finland, more rigorous than the best in India and China."

We know that we can learn much from other high performing schools, and BASIS is welcoming our visit. If you would like to donate your miles or have any coupons to share, please contact Steven Carney at scarney@rocklinacademy.org as soon as possible -- and thank you.

For more information on BASIS School you can visit their website at www.basistucson.org.

Drama Club: UPDATE! TNT

First Meeting is this Friday!

Registration for the Drama Club is still open and will remain open until Thursday, January 21st! We have filled half of our spaces and would like to see you join the fun! Recruit your friends, sign up, and join us at the first meeting, scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2010 before school at 7:30 AM in the gym. Please see club details below:

Cost: $50 -- Please send a check made payable to WSCA, to the office by Thursday, January 21st.

Includes: TNT Curriculum, TNT Staff, TNT Resources (PB 101 production, costumes, props, etc.)

First Meeting: Friday, January 22, 2010 -- 7:30 AM in the WS gym.

Club Sign-ups Here!

Music Notes From Mrs. Dayton

Dimes for the Drums!

You CAN stop the beat---if we don't get our new drums! We've already earned $250 toward the purchase of our new drum kit, but we are currently $175 short! We're collecting "Dimes for the Drums" beginning Wednesday, January 20th. Look for the Drum container in the office. If everyone in the school brought in eleven dimes ($1.10), we would easily meet our goal. Show your support for music and keep the beat moving!

Talent Show 2010

The first annual Western Sierra Talent Show is set for the afternoon of Friday, February 12th in the gym.

We have 16 acts signed up for our first talent show with a lot of singers! Please have your student see Mrs. Frantz to let her know what song your student will be singing and/or performing, and please limit the performance to 5 minutes or less.

Now is the time to start practicing! See Mrs. Frantz or Mr. Jacobson with your questions.

Parent School Partnership News

Volunteer Appreciation Assembly

PSP would like to invite all parents to the Western Sierra Awards Assembly on January 29th from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the school gym. We look forward to recognizing and appreciating our volunteers.

Family Event Our next family get together is January 29 @ the Roseville Indoor Pool on Fairway Drive from 3:30 to 5:30 immediately following the assembly. You can log on to their website and print a "free swim session" coupon.

Nutrition Break If your student is in Mr. Odell's or Mr. Wurden's homeroom, then February is your month to donate snacks for our Nutrition Break. Thank you in advance for your help.

Lunch If you would like to order lunch for the month of February, please print and fill out your order form, attach a check and return to the front office by the Thursday prior to the week your student will need lunch. If purchasing for the entire month of February, please have your check and order in by Thursday, January 28th.

Black and White Ball Thank You The Parent School Partnership would like to thank Mrs. Ann Nordby for coordinating the Black and White Winter Ball. The Ball was a hit. Thank you to all the chaperones for helping make the dance well supervised and safe. We would also like to thank the Van Kempen family for the facility and wonderful meal. The students loved it!

Download Lunch Calendar Here
Download Lunch Calendar - Pizza Here

Character Corner

After a full week of mid-terms, two exciting basketball games, and a fantastic Black and White Ball, we are focusing on new beginnings as we start the second semester at Western Sierra. One way to prepare ourselves for success this semester is to reconnect with our elements of

C-PREP. The following students responded with their thoughts to the question, "What are some of the most important parts of C-PREP, and why are these important to you?"

"Professional is important because in order to get a job and to get somewhere in life you need to be professional. You can be smart, but if you make a bad first impression, you won't get the job."

- Maya Condos

"Committed because to do anything you need to be committed to follow through to succeed."

- Hayden Koch

""Respectful. You have to have respect for the people surrounding you and for your elders."

- Hannah Flugstad

"Committed. If you are committed, you'll get a good job, and your friends will trust you."

- Cassidy Judah

"Being responsible and professional is the key to being successful."

- Mike Garr

You are welcome to ask your child the question about C-PREP and hear the brilliant responses you will get!

Sincerely,

Evie Frantz

Student Services Consultant

From Coach Jacobson

A big Wolf congratulations the both the boys and girls basketball teams for the wins they took home last Friday! Both played a great game and made Western Sierra proud. We look forward to seeing you this Friday night. The boys play at 6:30 PM in the gym. The girls team has a bye this week.

The snack bar for this Friday's game will feature "Wolf Dogs, Chips, Cookies, Candy, Fruit, Water and Gatorade". Please bring your appetite and purchase your goodies here to support our Athletic Dept.

Mr. Jacobson will be recruiting soon for Spring sports. Students should begin to think of sports they may be interested in participating in for the Spring. Also, any parents who are interested in coaching a Spring sport should contact Mr. Jacobson at rjacobson@rocklinacademy.org.

Yearbook

Attention Students & Parents:

The WSCA hardbound yearbook is currently being offered at a discount price of $32 and will include 60 color pages of class pictures, clubs, sports, activities and events throughout our historic first year! Students were provided with order forms in homeroom last week. Additional order forms are available in the office. This pricing will expire after January 22, 2010.

Dear Business Owner:

Support the WSCA and advertise your business. The WSCA yearbook has a limited number of pages for advertising and we greatly appreciate your support. Our goal is to raise enough revenue through display advertising to keep the cost of the book to parents and students as low as possible and to support our yearbook club. This is an opportunity to advertise your business to the WSCA community and support our school. Pricing is $50 per quarter page, $100 per half page and $200 for full page ads. To reserve your space now, please contact Alison Ivey at aivey@rocklinacademy.org.

Notes from Administration

End of Quarter Awards Ceremony

Please mark your calendars for Friday, January 29th, 2:30 PM for this quarter's awards ceremony. Come cheer your students on in recognition of their achievements! Ceremony will be held in the gym.

Recommitment For Fall 2010

Recommitment forms were sent home with each student on December 16, 2009. Please fill out the form with information that will indicate your intent for your student (s) to attend Western Sierra next year.

To help you understand our reasoning behind collecting this information, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, in order to conduct our planning for the following school year, as well as to determine the number of open seats, it is necessary to know which of our currently enrolled students plan to stay enrolled at Western Sierra. Secondly, as we pursue facilities support from Rocklin Unified School District for the 2010-11 school year, recommitment information is crucial.

This form was due to us by last, Friday, January 15, 2010. However, a number of families have not submitted it the office or their students' homeroom teacher. If you have not yet turned it in, please send with your student or drop it off in the main office. Remember, this applies if your student will or will not attend Western Sierra next year.

Additional forms are available in the office.

Should you have any concerns or questions, you may contact Melissa Concha at 916-778-4544 or at mconcha@rocklinacademy.org.

We have had a great year thus far and are excited for what quarters three and four will bring. Thank you for staying on board with us and offering your support in all areas--both for your student and for Western Sierra.

Sincerely,

Steven Carney
Western Sierra Collegiate Academy