TCJA TIMES
December 13, 2009 – Newsletter
Upcoming Events:
Christmas Program
Date/Time: December 17 – 6:30pm
Who it impacts: Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade, all supporters of TCJA
Overview: The Stage is built, the practices are almost completed… We are ready for you to come out and enjoy the program. Again, as in years past, we invite parents to bring a family dessert tray or two to share as a treat following the program. The school will provide hot drinks and punch.
A Taste of the Orient
Date/Time: January 24 – 5:00pm
Who it impacts: 9th grade and up, all constituents
Overview: The 9th and 10th grade students will be hosting a fundraising dinner for the Mission Trip coming up in March of 2010. They will be heading out to Rosario Tesopaco (Ely’s home) where they will be adding rooms to the boys’ dormitory and starting a girls’ dormitory. Tony Salango, from Calgary Alberta, will be coming to our school to cater this event, and as he has done at all of his other fundraising dinners, he will be presenting his specialty, a variety of traditional Asian dishes and a few of his own concoctions such as vegetarian ginger beef (gluten) and butternut squash in coconut milk. The meal is a bargain at $18 per adult or $10 per child (10 and under), and includes dinner entertainment.
You may purchase tickets from any of the students who are planning on going on the trip or you can contact the office to reserve your tickets. There are a limited number of seats available.
Mexico Mission Trip Organization and Planning Session
Date/Time: December 15 – 7:00pm-8:15pm
Who it impacts: Students in 9th grade and up who are interested in going on the trip and parents of those students, along with any adults who are interested in going along as sponsors.
Overview: We will be meeting to discuss the options for the mission trip. There will be a general look at the numbers (cost for the trip), the plan for travel (fly vs drive), and even the dates. If you are at all interested in possibly going along on this adventure, you will not want to miss this meeting.
Junior Year of High School in the Tri-Cities
Date/Time: December 17 – 5:30pm-6:30pm
Who it impacts: High School students (who have expressed an interest in continuing their studies here in the Tri-Cities following their sophomore year) and their parents.
Overview: Again, this is a meeting about options. Although TCJA is not currently offering a grade 11 program, the 8 students who did take 11th grade here have been very successful, and it is our understanding that the program we have offered in the past is in demand again. We will therefore, facilitate a planning meeting for parents and students who have expressed interest in pursuing the option of remaining at TCJA for one more year.
Again, the primary purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for parents and students to look at options that are available as they plan for the 2010-2011 school year. We will end the meeting just before 6:30 so that those who would like to do so, may attend the Christmas program.
Winter Break School Age Childcare Program
Date/Time: December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 – 7:00am-5:00pm
Who it impacts: Parents who are interested in having childcare over the break.
Cost of the Program: $25 per child per day
Overview: We will be operating a childcare program as a service to those who would like such a program. Each week, childcare, which will feature crafts, games and activities to help the days pass more quickly, will be available from Monday through Wednesday. We are offering a small discount to families with multiple children in the program. The second and subsequent children will be able to attend for $23. Please contact the office if you would like to sign up for this program as it is offered by reservation only.
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Other Information Worthy of Note:
Bake Sale Makes Big
The first and second graders, with the baking help of their parents, treated us to a wide variety of baked goods this past week. Sales were brisk throughout the day, and by the time the final count was in, they had made almost $175 for the ADRA campaign they have made the object of their gifting this Christmas season. For every dollar they have raised, there is an aggressive match of seven dollars, so in reality, they just raised somewhere in the neighborhood of $1400. Their goal is to break $200, so if anyone would like to donate to this worthwhile project, you have until Friday. This is some incredible vision our young people have, and we thank their parents for encouraging this outward display of social awareness at a time of year that has increasing become so commercialized and so dedicated to receiving.
Make Sure All Work Is In
With only 2 weeks of school remaining in the semester when we return from the winter break, it is critical the students be caught up in their work prior to the break. To facilitate helping students catch up, Mr. O. will be available and he will be inviting several students to join him for one day each week, in the event that some students have let the ball drop and they are quite behind in their work. In order to qualify for a break, students must be learners who have done their part to earn the break. Parents will be contacted in advance of these working opportunities.
Weekly Newsletter
Again, if you would like to be put on the mailing list to receive the updated newsletter every week, make sure to let Mrs. Hibbs know. We would love to serve you in the way that it works best for you.
Special Recognition
We would like to take a few minutes to acknowledge some special people at TCJA. If you enjoy the way the backdrop looks for the Christmas program (or other programs during the year) please note that it doesn’t just happen. Rather, there are some dedicated individuals behind the scenes. We would like to thank Mr. Brunkhorst who is always willing to turn the ideas of our teachers into the backdrops for our various programs. Lately, he has had additional help, which we would also like to recognize. Casey Brooks and Derick Menendez have been very involved in this specific backdrop, coming in to paint after school, Saturday evening, and Sunday this past week. Thank-you all three for a job well done.
Christmas Break
The Break will begin at 12:30 on Friday, December 18, 2009. We return to classes on Monday, January 4, 2010.
Ski Club
The staff approved in theory, the formation of a ski club. Students will be able to take one day in January and one day in February to go to Bluewood or another mountain of their choosing (the students as a club will choose, not individual students going individual places). The club is open to students from grades 5 up. Please note that all expenses for this club are the responsibility of the participants, including the cost of transportation. If you are interested in joining this club, watch for posted signs advertising how to become a member of this club, and a meeting schedule.
7-10 Upcoming Tests
Tuesday… 7/8 Reading (Johnny Tremain) book test
Wednesday… Advanced Keyboarding (Formatting a Term Paper)
Wednesday... Algebra I Chapter 5 Test
Wednesday... Geometry Chapter 5 Test
Thursday… 7/8 English Grammar (sentence types, subject/verb, prepositions)
Thursday... 9/10 Biology
Thursday… 9/10 English Grammar (8 basic parts of speech, verbals)
7-10 Available Study Sessions
Monday… 7/8 Reading (Johnny Tremain) 3:30-4:30
Wednesday... 9/10 Biology 3:30-5.00
