TCJA TIMES
December 6, 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 elementary Christmas Program has taken many forms over the last five or six years. This year we will again feature the elementary grades, as we have the last two. There will also be sightings of 7th through 10th graders in the program, and we invite the upper grade parents and students to come out as well to enjoy the program which will feature, among other things, an elementary school Christmas Cantata.
As we have done in the past, we are inviting 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. The fundraising dinner will be a catered 12-course Asian buffet dinner, complete with evening dinner entertainment. Tickets are $18 per adult, $10 per child (10 and under). 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.
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.
.....................................................................
Other Information Worthy of Note:
Grades Online Become More Relevant
Over the past year, parents have become increasing frustrated by our lack of consistency in keeping the grading online current. The teachers at TCJA are trying a new tack to make this useful tool more relevant to you. Each day, assignments are loaded and all work is recorded as in or missing. Additionally, each week, all of the work that has been turned in that week is graded and recorded. By about 6 o’clock on any given day, you should be able to check the grades online and at least see your child’s status with reference to classes. If you are unable to read the report or if you have any questions, please contact the office for an update.
Weekly Newsletter
We are going to be updating this newsletter each weekend. Our goal was to have this out to you by Saturday evening. With Sunset coming up so early on Friday, however, we are going to move the newsletter posting time to 6:00 Sunday evening. This first newsletter took a little longer to get online as the format had to be established, etc. In the future, however, watch for the letter as early as Friday afternoon. We will continue to publish a more-detailed, once-monthly newsletter to be handed out in the churches. If you would like to sign up to have this letter emailed to you, please contact the office (office@tcja.org) to sign up for that feature.
Week of Prayer
Kathy Tanaka from Port Hardy just completed a school-wide week of prayer series for our students. She talked about how she has seen God lead in her lives and in the lives of students and youth groups she has worked with, and she led us in trying to discover ways that we can mobilize in our communities and partner with God in changing the Tri-Cities for the better.
Volleyball and Football Wrap Up
Our fall sports programs are complete for this year. We will possibly be starting up a co-ed after school intramural basketball program in the New Year, if there is an interest in such a program. This program would see games run from 4:10 until 5:00 and would be open to parents and older siblings. Games would be on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Teams would play on one of those days each week.
Appropriate Attire for Winter (and in general)
Classes go outside during the day, even in these winter months. Students need to come to school appropriately dressed to engage in outdoor activities. Furthermore, since the first of November, short pants, culottes, etc. have been off-limits. Parents are asked to ensure that children are dressed for the weather.
In addition, several children have taken to wearing t-shirts and spaghetti strap blouses over their polo shirts. This lends itself to a tackiness that we do not wish to encourage. Collared shirts are expected to be outerwear.
Christmas Break
The Break will begin at 12:30 on Friday, December 18, 2006. We return to classes on Monday, January 4, 2010.
Staff Meeting
The staff will be meeting after school this Tuesday. Items of student interest on the agenda include the possible formation of a ski club, the mission dinner, and Christmas gifting options.
School Board Meeting
The Monthly School Board meeting will be held at TCJA on Thursday evening, December 10, at 7:00pm.
