Journey School's charter lays out multiple qualitative and quantitative assessment measures that are in line with the school's mission to provide Waldorf education in the public sector. These multiple measures help show the many ways students have learned. One measure which the state uses to measure the effectiveness of all public schools in California is the Academic Performance Index (API) system. The API system is based on year-over-year test score performance through a two-year cycle. The base score is for the first year and the growth score is for the second year. In 2011, Journey School's API score grew by 64 points to reach 830-the highest in our school's history. No other school in the Capistrano Unified School District demonstrated such growth. Journey School also met all federal goals for student achievement. Congratulations to our students and staff for their dedication and hard work. For more information, visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/index.asp.  

Journey School will have 300 students on campus this year! The Niguel Center and Oxford's IS Program will also be in operation. Traffic and parking adjustments will be made once school is in session and we know what works. In the meantime, here's the game plan:  

Drop-Off

• Kindergarten parents walk their child to class after parking on the hill.  
• An entire row of parking has also been reserved for Kindergarten parents.
• You may also talk to your Kindergarten teacher about suggestions for morning logistics.
• Grades students should be dropped off between 8:15-8:25 at the cul-de-sac or along the yellow curb like last year.  

Pick-Up

• Kindergarten students should be picked-up at their class by 12:30.  
• Grades 1-3 will be picked up along the yellow curb like last year.  
• All other students, children with older siblings, and car-pooling students will be picked up at the front gate by 3:15 after being escorted by their teachers.  

PLEASE arrive to school on time. Grades teachers will greet the students at 8:25 and begin instruction by 8:30. Kindergarten classes will start indoors this year at 8:30 as well.  

As of July 1, 2011 ALL students entering 7th through 12th grade are required to show proof of the Whooping Cough booster shot before attending the first day of school! If you haven't already done so, please bring your child's "shot record" to the office for verification as soon as possible. 

For a copy of the parent letter regarding the new immunization requirements click here. 

Thank you for keeping our school HEALTHY!

• Click here for our Welcome Committee's guide to starting the school year off successfully.  

• Jamba Juice is back and will be at school this Wednesday and every Wednesday this year.  

• The first Harvest Faire Committee meeting will be on Friday, September 9th in the Parent Cottage from 9:00 - 11:00. Please join us!

• There will be a back to school picnic and Togo's lunch fundraiser on Wednesday, September 14th. Flyer's for Togos will be distributed and parents may purchase lunches prior to the picnic day.  

• The first PC Meeting will be on September 14th.   

• A private screening of the movie "Race to Nowhere" will be held at Journey School on Friday September, 16th at 7:00 PM. The recommended age for attendance is high school and up. There will be an option for parents to pay for on site babysitting. See below for more details.

• Parent Cabinet will be available to answer questions and talk to families about supporting upcoming events before and after the Rose Ceremony on Wednesday.

• Parent Cabinet now has its own website. Please visit us at http://journeyschoolpc.net/ 

We are also hoping to provide Wednesday lunch for the teachers several times throughout the year. A simple Pot of Soup or Salad is greatly appreciated by our hardworking teachers. Simply pick a Wednesday and contact lisamariefry@yahoo.com with the date. 

Parent Cabinet Special Event - Friday 9/16 7pm  

Mark your calendars, book your sitter! Parent Cabinet is hosting a private showing of the "Race to Nowhere" documentary on Friday,  September 16 at 7:00 PM in the MPR. Journey School is holding the ONLY Orange County screening scheduled this fall, and Journey parents and faculty get to see it free ($10-15 value!) We are working on a child care offering and/or a second screening to enable both parents to attend--details to come in the next few days. We hope to see you there!  

About the movie: "Race to Nowhere" uses the stories of students, educators, and parents to bring awareness to the epidemic in our nation's schools where cheating, disengaged students, stress-related illness, depression and burnout are rampant; and young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired. Tens of thousands of people across the country are coming together, using the film as the centerpiece for dialogue, that challenges current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens. We hope to continue that dialogue at Journey School and discuss what this means for our children and how we educate at Journey. For the film clips and trailers click here.

We are excited about the high-quality aftercare program to be provided in 2011-12. The program will begin on Monday, September 12th. Please click on the links below for detailed brochures and to sign-up directly with the providers.  

Note: Journey School facilitates these opportunities but does not manage them as each provider is entirely responsible for all aspects of the class.  

Finally, we do expect additional opportunities to emerge in the coming weeks--including the possibility gardening and academic chess.  

Mondays:  

Little Acorns (Kindergarten Program) - click here for flier 

Homework Help, Puzzles & Games (Grades 4 & Up) - Click here for flier 

Tuesdays:  

Little Acorns - Click here for flier 

Guitar - Click here for flier 

Handwork  

Wednesdays:  

Drama (Grades 5-8) - Classes begin 9/19 - Click here for flier  

Homework Help, Puzzles & Games (Grades 4 & Up) - Click here for flier 

Thursdays:  

Little Acorns - Click here for flier  

Guitar - Click here for flier 

Strings  

Handwork  

Fridays:  

Little Acorns - Click here for flier 

Drama (Grades 1-4) - Classes begin 9/19 - Click here for flier