| August 28, 2010 | Western Sierra Collegiate Academy
Weekly Newsletter |
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Greetings!
Thanks to the work of Western Sierra students, parents and staff, we
enjoyed a great second week!
Students are settling in with this
years' schedule of classes and working with their teachers. They are
also showing their school spirit as our middle school students campaign
for Associated Student Body (ASB) offices and our high school ASB
officers begin planning activities that celebrate the unique spirit and
community of Western Sierra.
Parents are continuing to be full
participants and team partners as they communicate freely with teachers
and staff and monitor the progress of their students. Please be sure to
read through this newsletter where you will find detailed information
about the many ways you can use internet tools such as Pearson
SuccessNet, PowersSchool, and our WSCA website to get the most
up-to-date information about your student's progress and school
information. Also, please be sure to read about our Mandatory After
School Homework (MASH) program that starts next week.
Parents
also continue to spend time on campus serving in many volunteer
capacities that are critical to building and maintaining the culture of
Western Sierra and are critical to the smooth running of our school. I
am extremely grateful for the many ways this year's Parent School
Partnership (PSP) has been integral in the successful start of this
school year. Thank you so much to the dynamic and impressive PSP
Leadership Team for organizing our volunteers, managing our snack
program, and facilitating fine and fun events to bring our families
together. Please be sure to read about the return of the lunch program
at Western Sierra and how you will place orders for your students.
As
we move into the weeks ahead, there are some ways that you can continue
to ensure your student's success. One way is to make sure that your
student brings or has money to buy a nutritious snack to enjoy at our
10:00 snack time. Your students will benefit from the fuel that will
keep their brains working until their 12:40 lunch time. Another way to
support your student is to continue to check in with your student
regarding homework and how much time your student is spending at home
doing homework. If it seems like your student is spending too much time
completing homework at home, ask your student the following question:
"How
might you be using your Academic Lab and Core Advisory time?"
Students
have a one hour Academic Lab up to four days a week to work on homework
and a forty five minute Core Advisory period at least four days each
week to work on homework and access any of their teachers for help and
advice. I hope this knowledge gives you concrete way to continue to
stay involved in your student's academic life. As much as your student
may seem like he/she wants complete independence, the truth is that in
his/her heart he/she is grateful and appreciates that you care about
him/her and how well he/she does.
The Western Sierra staff is
eager to build on our successful start, and I hope that you join us in
looking forward to many informative and fun events in the weeks to come.
Respectfully,
Steven
Carney
Assistant Superintendent/Principal
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 | Calendar Reminders |
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Important Dates for August 30 - September 3 
Monday, August 30 - 6:30-7:30 College Planning Information Night in the Atrium
Tuesday, August 31 - Students vote for Middle School Associated Student Body Officers
Tuesday, August 31 - 3:30-3:45 Volleyball Meeting in the Gym
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| From Dr. Patterson, Executive Director |
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WELCOME BACK!
Welcome
back everyone, and a special welcome to our new families!
With the vast amount of
information you have received from school in the last week, you may be at
information overload. Therefore, my Welcome Back
Update will only touch on key issues that impact all our students and
schools.
Our
10TH Year:
The
2010-11 school year is a special year--it is the 10th
year
that families and educators have provided educational excellence through
Rocklin Academy. It was August 2001 that Rocklin Academy opened with 100
students in a small group of portable classrooms at Granite Oaks Middle School.
At the August board meeting, the Rocklin Academy Board honored three of our
founding teachers; Lyman Dayton, Mary McGown and Heidi Little.
Two
summer accomplishments: First, Western Sierra received full
accreditation. This three year accreditation is the highest level of
accreditation possible for a new school. This is a tribute to the dedication of
the faculty and staff and the quality of the educational program. Second,
Rocklin Academy and Western Sierra received FIVE Best of the Best awards -
Rocklin Academy (both Turnstone and Meyers) as best Elementary School, teachers
Scott Crosson, Mary McGown and Tammy Penny as Best of the Best Teachers, and Robin Stout as
Best of the Best Principal. CONGRATULATIONS!
State
Budget Crisis Continues: California is now 2 ½ months late in
adopting a budget - and nothing has improved since my last update in June. We,
like schools everywhere, are bracing for more cuts and payment deferrals.
Annual
Giving Campaign: We launched our first Annual Giving
Campaign this summer. Thank you very much to the many who have donated already.
We are seeking 100% participation from all. More information is included with
this newsletter and more is coming! Through the Annual Giving Campaign and the
companion efforts of our PSP's, we will protect and preserve the quality of
education our children deserve and need during this state fiscal crisis.
Annual Giving Appeal Annual Giving Form
Relay
for Life: On a more personal note, for several years Rocklin Academy and
now Western Sierra has sponsored a team at the Rocklin Relay for Life, which is
occurring on September 11th and 12th at
Granite Oaks Middle School. Like too many others, I have lost a close friend to
cancer. I hope to see you and your family there.
David
Patterson, Ed.D
Executive Director/Superintendent
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| Morning Procedures |
Traffic Flow Plan and Student Drop-Off and Pick Up Procedures
To ensure the safety of our students and families, and to help the process of drop-off
and pick up run smoothly, please review and practice our traffic flow plan and
procedures. Be sure to share this plan and procedures with anyone who will be
driving your student to or from school.
Student supervision begins at 8:10 in the morning and ends at 3:45 in the
afternoon. Please be sure to drop-off your student no earlier than 8:10 and pick up
your student between 3:30 and 3:45. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
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| Dress Code Enforcement |
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Dress Code Enforcement at Western Sierra  In order to maintain a professional and academic environment at school, Western Sierra has developed a dress code that we expect all students to honor. This dress code was distributed as part of the registration packet, and has been included in other recent parent communication pieces. We ask that you please take 5 minutes to review it with your student and evaluate which articles of their wardrobe are appropriate for school, and which are not. During these first two weeks of school, we have done our best to point out dress code violations to students and make them aware of the policy in case they did not realize their clothing was inappropriate. Beginning next week, we will be calling parents to bring a change of clothes for their student if an article of clothing does not meet the appropriate dress standards. Thank you for your partnership as we strive to maintain a safe environment that is free from unnecessary distractions to the learning environment for all students. |
| Web Accounts and Registration |
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Internet Tools for School: Pearson, Powerschool, Website  Please be advised that letters have been sent home yesterday and today regarding important log-in information to important websites. Pearson SuccessNet First, each student will have a master log-in ID and password to Pearson SuccessNet so that they may access any of their Pearson textbooks online. This is a great tool as there are both educational features on the website, as well as it provides students access to their texts without having to transport them from school to home daily. PowerSchool
PowerSchool is the student information system that Western Sierra uses to manage student data. All families will have access to the area of PowerSchool that teachers use to report grades and missing assignments. Letters went home yesterday to each student that contain usernames and passwords for each family. This year, parents and students will utilize the same login information. Please be sure to keep track of this letter which also explains how to access this website.
School Website-- Communication Tool and Assignment Tracker
It is with great enthusiasm that we encourage all families to familiarize yourselves with the Western Sierra website (www.wscacademy.org). We are very excited about the opportunity to bring current information to our families in a timely and efficient manner. Communication is such an essential tool and our hope is that you find the many resources now available to you very helpful. There, you will find webpages for all classes and teachers at Western Sierra, as well as calendars, news, and policies.
Additionally, students and parents have the ability to create an individual account to log in and track classes, homework, and even submit assignments online. Throughout this week, students were given the instructions needed to create their account from our website. As a parent, you may also create an account from which you may track classes, assignments and other pages.
Setting up an account is very easy-- just follow these steps:
1) Go to www.wscacademy.org
2) Scroll to the bottom of the page
3) Click Create Account
4) Enter your data (name, email, choose student, parent, other)
5) Create a password
6) Note the validation code to be turned into the office (for student accounts only)
7) The office administration will enter the validation code activate the student account (for student accounts only)
8) You will receive an email with a link to activate your account
Once your account is activated you will have the ability to add classes and track homework and due dates. Please encourage your students to set up their accounts as it may prove to be a useful organizational tool for your child and is an assignment in itself from some teachers. Please be sure to have your student turn in the validation code (for student accounts only) to the front office so that we may complete the final registration process. |
| Lunch Program |
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School Lunch Program Menus Available Today!  We are pleased to announce the start date and share the criteria for our 2010-2011 lunch program. Our vendor partnership with Original Pete's Pizza and Pasta and Subway will return. The price for a lunch will continue to be $4.00 per day. The only way to order lunch will be through the ordering process below that has been established by the PSP Lunch Committee.
Lunch Ordering Process:
1. Access the WSCA website.
2. Point to students bar to drop down and find the food menu.
3. Print menu.
4. Circle your choices and return your order to the WSCA office with payment by each due date.
For the month of September, you will need to turn in your menu with payment no later than Wednesday, September 1, 2010. This will ensure that your student will start getting a lunch on Tuesday, September 7, 2010. Any menu turned in after September 1, 2010 will be processed for your student to start getting lunches on Monday, September 13, 2010. Please adjust your payment accordingly.
Starting in October, the lunch menu will be posted on the website by the third Friday and will be due with payment no later than the following Friday.
Please note that because we pay our vendors when we place our order, we can not give any refunds.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email the PSP Lunch Committee at wscapsp@rocklinacademy.org.
Thank you for your support of the 2010-2011 lunch program. We look forward adding some new and exciting menu choices as the year unfolds.
Respectfully,
Your WSCA PSP
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| High School Students and Parents |
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College Information Night, PSAT, etc. 
College Information Night -- This Monday!
All high school students and their parents are invited to attend the College Information Night to be held in the atrium on Monday, August 30th from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
College is just around the corner for our sophomores and not far off for our freshmen. Please join Dr. Jennica Jenkins, Principal Carney and others to discuss Western Sierra's plans to prepare your student for college.
Be sure to bring your questions with you so that we may address them this evening!
PSAT
The PSAT will be held at Western Sierra on Saturday, October 16th. This test is required for all 10th graders and is highly recommended for 9th graders. Please be sure to sign up in the main office and pay the $15.00 fee as soon as possible if you have not already done so. If you do not register in advance, you will not be able to take the test. |
| Homework Support Program Begins Next Week |
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Mandatory After School Homework (MASH)  Please visit the link below to learn more about the program Western Sierra will bring back from last year to support mastery and 100% homework completion by students.
Also, please check out the PSP News section of our WSCA website if you would like to volunteer your time to support our students' success.
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| Staff Updates |
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Good luck, Mrs. Ala!  Please join the Western Sierra staff in wishing Mrs. Ala good luck in her new endeavors as she makes a career move to spend more time with her precious baby.
Mrs. Ala has been a part of Western Sierra since we opened and her cheerful smile and helpful nature will be missed! Good luck to you and your family, Jessica! |
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Respectfully,
Steven Carney
Assistant Superintendent/Principal
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