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Summit Public Schools: Rainier
1750 S. White Road
San Jose, CA 95127
(408) 831-3104
Rainier office x 5001
Rainier office is located in room 1215
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Principal
Pamela Lamcke
(408) 831-3104
Assistant Director
Lia Pinelli
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Quick Links...
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School Donations Needed
Please consider sending in Hand Sanitizer or Facial Tissues to keep our students healthy.
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Families have a 40 hour volunteer commitment per student enrolled - start logging your volunteer hours.
Please make sure you log in your hours using the link above. Families who have reached the 40 hour commitment will be recognized in future editions of the newsletter and on this page of the PIVOT website. |
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En Español
Tan pronto como la edición en español está disponible, una copia impresa estará disponible en la recepción.
¿Quieres traducir esto ahora? Ver el boletín como una página web. Utilice el enlace en la parte superior "Click here to view as a webpage." ("Haga clic aquí para ver esta página en la red.") Copiar la dirección de la página en la red. Vaya a esta página web:
Copie la dirección web en la caja. Haga clic en el botón "Translate". (Haga clic en El Botón "Traducir")
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Summit Rainier YahooGroup
Diane Tom
If you would like to join the Rainier Parent listserve/ email group, you can join in one of three ways:
2. Send a blank email to this address and respond to the confirmation
3. Email group moderator, Diane Tom and she will send you an invitation to the group
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Bookmark our new Amazon link today and Amazon will donate up to 10% of your purchases to Rainier. |
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Traffic Safety
Reminder for Rainier drivers: do not double park on Marten during morning drop off or afternoon pick up. Double parking is illegal as well as creating unsafe conditions for students and other drivers. Please drive forward and use the passenger loading and unloading zone - marked with a white painted curb just past the Rainier gate.
We are still seeking volunteers to direct traffic in front of the Rainier gate during the morning and afternoon: Please sign up for your choice of day and shift here (scroll down to On-campus). |
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Reminder
Parent Training - This Thursday, December 5 at 5:30pm on the Tahoma Campus. Parent PIVOT meeting at 6:30pm
Teaching and Learning Tour - Thursday December 12 at 9:30am on Rainier Campus
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Message from the Directors
Dear Rainier Families,
Our faculty is committed to the belief that students not only need to learn but they need to learn how to learn. For their success in high school, college, and career, students need to be able to set goals for learning, plan their work, process information, demonstrate what they know, and reflect on what they learned. We know that learning how to learn isn't something that happens overnight; it's a process, and students need coaching and guidance along the way. This is why we have an academic mentoring program, where we set aside time every week for students to engage in conversations about their learning with their mentor.
This academic mentor time happens every week on Fridays. Students sit down with their academic mentor and lead a personal 1 to 1 conversation about their progress in their classes. In this safe space, students can share struggles as well as victories on their class projects, content assessments, or other aspects of their learning. They work with their mentor to set goals and make plans to drive their learning for the following week. They also check in on previous goals and problem-solve together when they haven't met those goals.
As the first semester draws to a close in just three weeks, these weekly 1 to 1 academic mentoring meetings are taking on increasing importance. Now is the time for students who have gotten off track to make plans with their mentor for how to use the upcoming winter break and Expeditions time in January to catch up and get back on track. Parents, you can find out more about these plans by logging onto the PLP dashboard with your student. Students' goals show up on the right-hand side of the dashboard. You can find more detail by clicking on the "My SDL (self-directed learning) Cycle" tab at the top of the page. If you are looking for resources to help your student, the Academic Literacy playlist is a great place to start. Here you can find resources on study strategies, note-taking, time management, and much more. Of course, if you have any questions, you can always contact your student's academic mentor for more information.
Pamela Lamcke, Principal
Lia Pinelli, Assistant Director
Summit Public Schools: Rainier
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Pamela Lamcke, Principal
On behalf of the entire Rainier community, I am pleased to announce the initiation of a new school award - The Justin Semana Award.
The Justin Semana Award will be given annually in honor of Rainier 11th grader Justin Semana. The award will be given to a scholar athlete, who exemplifies the many gifts Justin contributed to the Rainier community.
As a scholar, Justin maintained a steady focus on his academics, earning straight As for all semesters in 9th and 10th grade. Justin set high standards for himself, while also collaborating with and supporting his classmates.
As an athlete, Justin not only worked hard to perform well himself, but he demonstrated extreme commitment to his team. He worked to give his best effort each day and supported his teammates in doing the same. Justin would speak up and express his thoughts and ideas clearly, directly, honestly and with respect for others and for the work of the team. He approached athletics with a care and commitment to his team above all else.
It is not easy to be a scholar athlete. Many students find it difficult to balance the rigor of their academic workload with the physical demands and hours of practice it takes to succeed as an athlete. Justin went beyond all of this - not only finding success in academics and athletics, but also working to be the best teammate he could be.
It is with great honor that we commemorate Justin and his contributions to our school through this award.
I would also like to thank the students and faculty who worked hard on the memorial event. Students included Som Ngeth, Gabby Rich, Ciara Gallegos, Emily Wooden, Ruby Caldera, Brenden Nunes, Santi Villalobos, Bryana Packer, Daisy Trujillo, Elijah Taa, Janine Macala. Faculty included Ms. Miranda, Ms. Lee, Ms. Larson and Ms. Pinelli.
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Upcoming Parent Education Events
Pamela Lamcke, Principal
We know that students experience the most success in school when they have consistent support from their teachers, mentors, and parents. Therefore, we are always striving to improve our parent outreach and education to ensure that parents have all the information they need to fully partner in their students' education.
At 5:30pm on Thursday, December 5 before our PIVOT meeting on the Tahoma campus, we will be holding a training session on students' Personalized Learning Plan dashboard. This is the tool that parents and students can use to track academic progress through their current projects and playlists, grades, goals, and much more. Teachers and students will be available to help walk parents through all the information available on this tool and answer their questions. This information session is open to all parents and will be held in both English and Spanish, and we hope many of you will be able to stay and attend the PIVOT meeting right afterward.
In addition, we will be hosting a Teaching and Learning Tour for current parents to see our amazing teachers and students in action on a typical school day. We have one scheduled for Thursday, December 12 at 9:30am. We will explain our school model's skills-focused project-based learning and the technology platforms that support it, and will provide an opportunity to observe classrooms in action.
We are looking forward to all of these upcoming opportunities to connect with parents about your students' education. By strengthening our partnership, we know we can increase outcomes for our students. Thank you for all that you do for your students' education!
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Lia Pinelli, Assistant Principal
Summit San Jose has held several Recruitment Open Houses on campus over the past few months, spreading the word about our school to prospective families. We appreciate all the parents and students who have come to these events to answer questions from the families.
We have also had prospective students come and tour the school for the day and "shadow" current students during the school day. We want to send a "Shout Out" to students who have acted as "Shadow Hosts":
- Amanda Ramirez
- Maya Jaquez
- Alyssa Perez
- Wyatt Ousey
- Renee Broussard
- Jowie Panaligan
- Judit Solorio
- Hunter Lindstrom
Thank you for being great Summit representatives.
We are continuing to take applications for both Rainier and Tahoma and will hold additional Recruitment events in January and February. Application deadline for the first lottery is February 28.
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College Corner
11th grade families, it is time to register for the SAT and/or ACT tests! These tests are required as part of the application process to a four-year university. The tests are quite different from each other - the SAT focuses more on reasoning skills and critical thinking, while the ACT is more aligned to what students are learning in their classes. We suggest that students take the ACT and then choose whether they also want to take the SAT. Mentors will be checking in with all 11th graders over the next few weeks to discuss the differences between the tests and to make sure that students complete the registration process.
We strongly recommend that students take these exams in January and February. The SAT test date is January 25, so registration needs to be complete by December 27. The ACT test date is February 8, and registration needs to be complete by January 10.
To register for the exams, students need either a credit card to pay for the exam, or a fee waiver. Students can qualify for a fee waiver if they meet specific criteria, including receiving free or reduced lunch here at Rainier. Students who need a fee waiver must request the fee waiver from Ms. Lamcke prior to registering for the exam. Students can receive up to two SAT fee waivers and two ACT fee waivers total over the course of both 11th and 12th grades.
For more information, please contact Ms. Lamcke and check out the following websites: |
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College Visits
University of Nevada, Las Vegas - representatives will be on the Tahoma campus on Thursday December 5 at 4pm. Rainier students are invited to attend. This is an excellent opportunity for students to meet with college representatives and find out about the school.
Students, even if this is not your first choice school, you can use this opportunity as a "practice" session for talking with other representatives. Here is a list of questions that you might want to consider asking as you determine your "right fit" college.
Upcoming College Visits (Rainier Campus)
California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) - January 21, 3pm St. Mary's College - March 18, 3pm Dominican University of California - March 25, 3pm Academy of Art University - March 27, 3pm More to be announced |
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Fundraising
Diane Tom
Amazon.com
 Are you starting your Holiday Gift Buying? Make sure you use our Amazon link - we can earn up to 10% of your purchase price with no additional cost to you. Click on it first and remember to use it every time you purchase from Amazon. Please share this link with your family and friends.
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/?tag=rainpivo-20
Other ways to help
eScrip - Register your Safeway card, and a portion of your purchase comes back to Summit San Jose when you use your debit card, check, or cash. Credit cards will no longer earn contributions.
Shop at Target with a red card? Just indicate you'd like donations to go to Rainier here:
https://www-secure.target.com/redcard/tcoe/enroll
We have SHARES cards in the office for anyone who shops at SaveMart, Lucky, or FoodMaxx. Just slide your card before payment and we earn a percentage of each purchase, with no additional cost to you.
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Drew Larson, Biology Teacher
Biology has some exciting projects next semester to support our DNA and Genetics curriculum. While some of our big items such as a PCR Machine, or Thermal Cycler, a machine used to amplify segments of DNA via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are on the way, we are still in need of items to support the projects we have planned. All five Summit schools teaching biology this year will be doing the project and any donated items will be really appreciated. Thank you for your help and support as we continue to build our science resources!
Items needed:
Ziploc Freezer Bags, quart size
Coffee Filters 10/12 cup size, flat bottom
1 gallon Plastic Pitcher
Gloves - Nitrile
Gladware - at least 5x5x2 inches in size or gel staining trays
Plastic Spatulas
Sharpie Markers
Painter Tape Rolls
Fresh Strawberries
Items are needed by December 18 so we have time to inventory and acquire any remaining items. Donations can be brought to Ms. Larson's room (1211). Please sign up and check this list for more specific information. Contact Ms. Larson with questions.
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Alysssa Martinez, Editor in Chief
Rainier Yearbook
Selfies
Did you know that "Selfie" is the Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year for 2013? So take a picture of yourself and send it in so that we can showcase it in the yearbook. Make it your own....send in a funny selfie, send in a serious selfie, send in selfies of you and your friends....be creative and have fun!
Yearbook is also in need of photos including Camping Trip, Spirit Week, Expeditions and Campus Life.
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Coach J Bumagat, Athletic Director
Interest List for Spring Sports Sign up if you are interested in joining our Spring Sports Teams. It looks like we have enough for a girls Softball team... what about Track and Field for the Spring? We also need parents to coach and help out with the teams! Spring Sport athletes and parents will need to attend a mandatory meeting on January 16 at 6pm in the Tahoma Auditorium. Contact Coach J or Ms. Goddard with questions.
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John Gundayao
The Interact Club is helping out with a local organization's project called Socks in the City that collects socks for the homeless in San Jose and San Francisco so they can keep their feet nice and warm during the cold winter nights. We will be collecting socks (and mittens too) all this week at lunch. Socks need to be new, especially needed are men's white athletic or outdoor socks. For more information, please e-mail JGundayao.ra@mysummitps.org
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The White House Student Film Festival
Here is your chance to make a video and have it shown at the White House. Contest is open to students in grades K - 12. Video should highlight the power of technology in schools and address how you currently use technology in your classroom, or the role technology will play in education in the future. Submissions are due by January 29, 2014. Please see the official website for additional details.
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Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
- Thursday, December 5 - College Visit - University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Tahoma Campus, 4pm
- Thursday, December 5
- Training Session for Parents - PLP Dashboard, Tahoma Campus, 5:30pm
- PIVOT meeting, Tahoma Campus, 6:30pm
Next Week
- Thursday, December 12 - Teaching and Learning Tour for Parents, 9:30am
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, December 20 - Last day of semester
- Friday, December 20 - Winter Dance
- December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break
- Monday, January 6 - School Resumes
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Newsletter Submissions
Is there something you would like to have included in a future edition? Rainier's newsletter comes out weekly on Wednesdays. The deadline for submissions is Monday at noon. Please email articles to the Rainier Newsletter Editor. Early submissions are welcome and appreciated.
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