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GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING! 
Weekly News
October 19, 2012
JOURNEY WEAVES SCIENCE & ETHICS
At Journey, we cultivate the students' intrinsic desire to understand our world and to care for it.  Our unique Kindergarten program, nature studies in the lower grades, and rigorous main lesson blocks in middle school work together to teach students age-appropriate science lessons while promoting ethical thinking. In furthering these efforts, here are 6 additional ways we encourage the mindful use of resources: 

 

#1 New Waste Cans on Loan from The Ecology Center 
These three colorful and informative waste cans clearly labeled for
landfill, recycling and compost will be on loan from The Ecology Center for the next three weeks. The goal is to find the best solution for Journey's waste management. If the faculty, students and Green Team approves of the new look, we will create our own colorful waste stations on campus. A big thank you to the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. 

 

Read more on the JourneySchool.net blog about: 
  • #2 Waldorf and Ecoliteracy Curriculum  
  • #3 Zero Waste Lunches and Mess Kits for School Potlucks
  • #4 Compost Wednesdays
  • #5 Recycle Thursdays   
  • #6 Teacher Wellness
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX (API)
Journey School's Charter lays out multiple assessment measures that are in line with the school's mission to provide Waldorf education in the public sector. At Journey, student outcomes are demonstrated in many ways, including: interdisciplinary projects, main lesson books, artistic performances, and teacher-generated assessments. 

Another assessment tool 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 STAR Test results through a two-year cycle. The base score is for the first year and the growth score is for the second year.

While Journey School does not emphasize standardized testing, we are  committed to ensuring that students learn core California standards so they are thoroughly prepared for their academic challenges ahead. Thanks to the efforts of students and staff, Journey School's 2012 API score grew by 28 points to reach 858--the highest in school's history. In 2011, Journey School's API score grew by 64 points. 

As we
continue to improve in many ways, it's important to note that few schools in the region have demonstrated such API improvement in recent years.  More detailed information will soon be published on the website. 
 SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS
We want to thank our teachers who often spend extra time supporting students outside of class. For example, our Title I Specialist, Suzanna Bortz, provides daily tutorial sessions for students in need. In addition, on any given day you can find dedicated Journey School teachers tutoring students after school. We also want to thank former Journey School student, Elizabeth Graber, now a junior at San Clemente High School, who is offering FREE after-school tutoring to a limited number of Journey school students looking for help with Language Arts. To contact Elizabeth, please send an email to [email protected].  
EDUCATION PROPOSITIONS & SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ON THE BALLOT
We hope that you will take the time to vote on November 6. There are many ways for you to be involved. To find out how or if you have questions about the election, click here. For information on Proposition 30 click here or visit our Budget Context page.
READ MS. HELLENE'S JOURNAL PUBLICATION
We are very proud of our kindergarten teacher, Ms. Hellene, whose article, Michelmas in Public Schools, was featured in the fall publication of Confluence -- the quarterly newsletter for the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education. Read the article here.
GRATITUDE TO THE MCGEE FAMILY
                                                            
Linda McGee and Colleen Patterson (Journey School Foundation Board President)
A big thank you to Rob and Linda McGee for giving the lead donation of $250,000 to launch our first development office to make Journey financially independent so it can fully reach its promise to bring public Waldorf education to Southern California. 

Rob and Linda said:
"We have a need for providing education that's outside the box and we want Journey to be here for generations. In a world of many causes, we felt that Journey was one worthy of our donation."
NEW DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Journey School is delighted to welcome Elizabeth Beas (BAY-ahs) as our new Director of Development to Journey School. Our Journey School Foundation Board conducted a 3 month search guided by expert executive search agency resources to find just the right fit.

Establishing a development office at a public school provides a framework for powerful fundraising and support from outside sources. Elizabeth will take the lead in developing relationships with the community, corporations and foundations to fund our long-term financial goals as outlined in the REACH newsletter from June 2012. For instance, a successful development office can lead to a well-funded and consistent specialty program that offers students the best artistic opportunities imaginable -- or superb training and support for specialty teachers who currently work so hard with so little support due to very real financial constraints.

"Journey School is a truly special place that I am proud to serve through development," said Mrs. Beas. "I believe the opportunities for financial development at Journey are abundant and I look forward to working with the community to identify and secure the funding our school community deserves."

Outside of school, Mrs. Beas enjoys cycling and yoga, taking walks at the beach with her two dogs, Ruby and Roxy, participates in alumnae club for her alma mater, USC, and spending time with family and friends.
GRATITUDE TO PARENT CABINET
 

A BIG thank you to PC for voting to allow the Journey School Foundation to transform the Parent Cottage into the Rob and Linda McGee Development Office for welcoming outside visitors to our campus. Due to your forward vision and generosity, Elizabeth will have the space to make great things happen for our school!  The spacious New Parent Cottage is located at the back of the campus behind the MPR next to the Music Room.
CONFERENCES & MINIMUM DAYS REMINDER
Parents play a vital role in the educational process and that's why we offer Parent Conferences which will take place the week of October 29-November 2 between 1:00-4:00 p.m. Please be sure you have scheduled your appointment with your child's Main Class Teacher.

When you meet with your teacher you will:
  • Discuss your child's academic and personal development.   
  • Receive a Trimester Report with thoughtful, timely, and specific feedback.   
  • Gain new insight by studying your student's work.   
  • Co-create personalized goals for the coming months.    

In order to make meaningful conferences possible, school will end at 12:30 PM the entire week for all students, K-8.

  • Most after-care classes will be canceled except for the Wednesday's classes and Mr. K's classes. Please check directly with your after-care provider.
  • Mr. K will be offering drop-in childcare for $5 an hour beginning at 12:30pm for the duration of conference week. A sign-up sheet can be found in the school office.  
  • We look forward to working together to ensure Conference Week is highly successful and runs smoothly.
HALLOWEEN COSTUME REMINDER
Halloween is approaching and we want to remind our families that costumes worn to school should feature grade-level curriculum themes only. (Please save the scary, bloody, and media-inspired costumes for after school). For more information about your child's curriculum, see our recent newsletter or consult your child's teacher. Let's honor the opportunity this holiday offers to our community! Click here for complete Dress Code Policy on JourneySchool.net. 
HARVEST FAIRE NEEDS YOU!
Harvest Faire is November 3rd - Volunteers Needed  
Can you haul pumpkins? Lend an EZ-up? Bake a dozen cookies? Serve tea? There are so many opportunities to help make our only public festival a huge success!  A couple hours that Saturday morning or earlier in the week can make a huge difference. Go to Harvest Faire Help Sign-up
and click on what looks good to you!  Once you've entered the sign-up site, you'll see a calendar. Click on one of the dates to see the tasks and items needed for that day. Your room parent will send information on volunteer opportunities at your class booth. 

Also, 1st grade needs help collecting items from nature in ABUNDANCE for our fairy houses, including: tree bark, sticks, feathers, pods, rocks, shells, pine cones, sea glass, bamboo, leaves, acorns, twigs, branches, large log rounds, fairy tears (usually purchased), colored stones, and anything else from nature that will spark creative imaginations. 
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Visit our website for information about how to sign up for our wonderful enrichment classes including Guitar with Billy Alexander, Strings with Jan Poth, Handwork with Liz Clark and Uschi Freibauer, ASAP with Mr. K, Little Acorns with Tammra Tanner, and Ms. Elisabeth's new Yoga class which includes 5th through 8th graders. Please click here for details.

NOTE: While Journey School facilitates these after school opportunities, we do not manage them; each provider is entirely responsible for all aspects of the class.  
ADULT LEARNING WORKSHOPS
Parent workshops are a cornerstone of parent education here at Journey. Please attend whenever you have the opportunity! See our event calendar for information on upcoming workshops.

  • Oct. 22nd and 29th - Parent Handwork Classes 
  • Oct. 23rd - Ms. B and Ms. Jill Mess Kit Making (sign-ups closed) 
  • Oct. 25th - Lee Sturgeon Day
  • Parent Cabinet Films Series (ongoing) - Play Again (Oct 2012), Race to Nowhere (Sept 2011)
  • Head, Heart and Hands with Tammra Tanner (ongoing)
PHOTO ORDER DEADLINE & MAKE-UPS
Student make-up photos will be taken this coming Tuesday, October 23 and Joy will extend the deadline for orders for those families.

Please note that school photo orders are due October 24th if you would like to receive the class group photo at no extra charge! You can order at any time, but will have to pay for the class photo after October 24th. Joy keeps photos forever!

If you need photos for holiday cards or presents...please have them in no later than November 9th so that I can get them delivered to you before the Thanksgiving break.

Also, a CD of all photos of your child, (not the class group photo) can also be purchased for $25.00. (I accidentally omitted this from the order form!)
6TH LIAM'S MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
It is time to mark your calendar for the 6th Annual Liam's Memorial Golf Tournament. It will be Friday November 16th, 2012 at Aliso Creek Golf Course. We look forward to another great year with a few twists to be announced!  The profits will benefit the
EVERY WEEK AT JOURNEY
  • Compost and Gardening Wednesdays - Bring your compost to the garden team and join our Garden Crew in maintaining our outdoor classrooms every Wednesday morning in the Green Heart Garden. Read our blog for details.
  • Jamba Juice Wednesdays - Jamba Juice sale proceeds help Parent Cabinet fund the events and festivals it sponsors each year.
  • Recycling Thursdays - Every Thursday morning at drop-off our 4th grade team collects CRV labeled plastic bottles and aluminum cans.  No glass please.
  • Lunch Form Fridays - Every Friday forms are collected for the following week's or month's lunch orders. 
UPCOMING EVENTS & CALENDAR
IMPORTANT DATES AND UPCOMING EVENTS: 
  • 10/23 - Photo orders due to receive FREE class photo 
  • 10/23 - Mess Kit Making Workshop (sign-ups closed)  
  • 10/25 - Guest Speaker: Lee Sturgeon Day 
  • 10/29-11/2 - Parent-Teacher Conferences - 12:30pm dismissal all week
  • 11/3 Harvest Faire 12-4pm
  • 11/4 Daylight Savings Time Ends
  • 11/12 No School
  • 11/13-16 Book Fair
  • 11/14 Lantern Walk 5pm for Kindy, 6pm for 1-4th Grades 
CALENDAR: 
More key dates for the 2012-2013 school year are posted on the calendar page of the website. Our communications team works hard to keep these dates current and accurate. Please email [email protected] if you find a mistake and we'll correct it as soon as possible. Please bear in mind that specific dates for festivals or special events may change depending on unpredictable circumstances.  
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