(also located at http://alamedaclc.org/)

18. Bladium Sports Day Field Trip

23 Open House, Future Leaders’ Institute Presentations, 7:00 p.m.

28. No School – Memorial Day

30. CCEF Meeting; 6:00 p.m.

6. Governing Board meeting; 7 – 9 p.m.

11 – 14 Learner Led Conferences

13. BBQ
14. Last Day of School

A lot is happening at the ACLC! In mid-April, we learned that we are the recipients of California Distinguished Schools Award (the first charter school in Alameda County to receive the honor!) and three facilitators will be traveling to Disneyland in May to accept the award of behalf of our school. We also had two of our senior learners, Jeanette Cazares and GV Tupasi, featured on the cover of Alameda Magazine and the Ultimate Frisbee team was recently recognized by The East Bay Express, in their "Best of the Bay" issue, as the Best High School Team in the Bay Area. Congratulations to us!

A few dates to remember:

• Friday, May 18 will be a half day with a 12:15 p.m. dismissal.

• Wednesday, May 23 is Open House and FLI Presentation Night.

• Thursday, June 14 is GRADUATION!

At the May Governing Board meeting, the board approved a budget for next year that includes hiring a full time Spanish facilitator. Introductory Spanish and Spanish 1 will be offered next year at the ACLC. As the program grows, Spanish 2, 3, and 4 should become available in future years. To make this happen, the board approved an increase in enrollment from 215 to 228 for next year. Even with that increase, there are still 153 learners on the waiting list. The board continues to look at possible expansion options for the 2008-09 school year.

On May 23, ACLC will be having our annual open house. Please come out and view learner projects, meet new learners and their families, and observe the project presentations by this year’s Future Leaders’ Institute participants. – Paul Bentz

Dear ACLC Families,

ACLC is a unique learning environment that may take parents and learners years to fully understand and appreciate, but it is a journey that we take together.

The Mentor Parent Program is available to any family needing an occasional question answered, or on-going assistance.

Parent participation: By accepting a spot at ACLC you are expected to participate in the operation of this school. There are three formal organizations where parent participation is critical:

• GOVERNING BOARD
• Meets the first Wednesday of each month, at ACLC
• Is made up of 2 learners, 2 parents, 3 facilitators, 1 community member, 1 AUSD representative
• Four Governing Board committees and each committee needs parent participation:
• Program Evaluation
• Standards/Curriculum Development
• Personnel
• Finance Management/Budget

• CREATIVE COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION (CCEF)
• Meets at 6 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month, at ACLC.
• The board is elected annually, including president, VP, secretary and treasurer
• Comprised of 2 learners, 8 parents, the lead facilitator, and up to 5 community members
• CCEF is responsible for generating and distributing funds for ACLC activities not covered by the school budget. The school relies heavily on the funds generated by the parent fundraising activities (community-based fundraising). CCEF also looks for grants and other fundraising ideas.

• PARENT ASSET COMMITTEE (PAC)
• Meets each month right after the CCEF meeting (~ 7 p.m.)
• The chair or co-chairs are elected annually – position OPEN for 2007-2008
• Open to ALL parents – Volunteer today!
• PAC’s mission is to support and enrich the educational experience at ACLC. The committees and projects change from year to year. Current committees include:

• Facilities/Technology: improvement, maintenance beautification, safety & technology issues
• Education: exchange programs, tutoring, guest speakers, field trips, enrichment classes
• Communication: newsletter, listserv maintenance, school directory
• Social events: dances, picnics, graduation, lunch monitors, healthy lunch program

Fran Kahane, PAC Chair 2006-2007

fkahane@comcast.net

Next PAC Meeting: Wednesday, May 30th at 7:00 p.m.

CCEF Meetings are on the last Wednesdays of the Month at 6:00 p.m. at the Center. Please join us. The next meeting will be the final meeting of the school year. If you are interested in being on the CCEF Board or you are interested in being an officer on the CCEF Board, please come to the next meeting.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 30th at 6:00 p.m.

Roger Brady is currently facilitating a competition for a "logo" for ACLC. If you are artistic or would like to see an image representing ACLC, please submit ideas to Roger.

Holly Larsen, of Larsen Communications, has generously offered a $500.00 scholarship to a deserving graduating learner of ACLC who has shown exceptional skills in writing and has been accepted to a college or university. The goal of the scholarship is to: honor a learner who writes well, enjoys writing, and may be considering a career in communications, highlight the importance of written communication in today's world and give back to ACLC, which provides Alameda families a community that values learning. Holly is an alumni parent of two learners. Thanks Holly!!!

The CCEF Board would like to thank all of the ACLC families who have donated through our direct donation program this school year. Throughout this school year, CCEF has funded a large technology purchase in the fall and two recent purchases of ceiling mounted projectors, supported the "yearbooks for all" program and will be supporting the graduation festivities for this year. If you have not made a charitable contribution this year, please consider CCEF for your charitable contributions. Also, if you pledged a donation, please remember to forward the donation to CCEF.

Thanks to everyone for a very successful year!!! Have a great summer!! - Vickie Miyashiro

We raised $86 this year. Thank you to every one who turned in box tops!

During the summer, you can either hold on to the box tops until school starts or you can mail them to me at:

Iris DeMello

1544 Fourth Street

Alameda, CA 94501

It’s an easy way to support ACLC!

May 18^th Sandwich Island

Sandwiches

Potato Salad, Crudites, Chips, Fruit

June 1st Thanksgiving

June 14^th Last Day of School BBQ

v v v v Facilitator Class Messages v v v v

Math 6: We have just finished Chapter 8 and are starting Chapter 9 which explores circumference and area of circles to develop the respective formulas. We also developed the formulas for the volumes and surface areas of prisms and cylinders. Our last unit will be focusing on probability where learners will be developing their own fair game. We should have fun trying each others’ games out!

I have been talking with the 6th grade learners about their math placement for next year. Many of the 6th graders will be taking pre-algebra next year. This is the traditional 7th grade course and follows the 7th grade California Math Standards. A few learners, however, may take Algebra next year. A matrix is used to determine math placement. Included in the matrix is the learner’s grade in the class, the learner’s Alameda Arithmetic Test (AAT) score, the learner’s score on the Algebra Readiness Test, as well as their California Standards Test score. If you would like more information on this matrix please contact Patricia.

It has been a lot of fun working with the 6th graders this year in both math and science. They are a delightful group of young people, very genuine, bright and truly nice people! (from Patricia)

Science 6: We have been very busy working on Lego League! Learners are currently engaged in building their Lego robots and programming them to complete various tasks. They are learning to program various sensors and robotic arms with their Lego robots as well.

We will be conducting a Lego League competition in June. You will have an opportunity to see the Lego League then. I will keep you posted through the list serve. (from Patricia)

Pre-algebra: We just finished learning about the characteristics of right triangles and about the Pythagorean Theorem. Currently we are working hard on linear equations, especially slopes and rates of change. Learners have been graphing lines as well as comparing and interpreting graphs. Standardize testing will be administered the week of May 8th. I will administer the Algebra Readiness Test the following week.

I have been talking with the pre-algebra learners about their math placement for next year. A matrix is used to determine math placement. Included in the matrix is the learner’s grade in the class, the learner’s Alameda Arithmetic Test (AAT) score, the learner’s score on the Algebra Readiness Test, as well as their California Standards Test score. Each of these is given a score of 1 to 5. To progress to Algebra next year learners need to get an average score of 3.7 or higher if in seventh grade, and 3.5 or higher if in 8th grade. We will work to place your learner in the appropriate math placement for next year. Ask your learner to see a copy of this matrix. If you would like more information on this matrix please contact Patricia.

I am very proud of how hard the Pre-algebra learners have worked this year to master the Pre-algebra concepts. They have shown tremendous growth!! (from Patricia)

Bridges to Algebra: We have just finished Chapter 8 in the Big Assignment Book and are currently working on reviewing geometry concepts in Chapter 9. Learners should have been at 32 units in Carnegie by May 4th. We are working at the pace of about 3 units per week on Carnegie.

The learners in Bridge to Algebra have shown solid growth in their mathematics this year!

Algebra 1: What an awesome experience we had POWER LEARNING advanced algebra topics to prepare for the standardized tests! We now cruise into the sunset with application projects that will tie together some of the important skills that need to be internalized for Geometry and future Algebra 2 readiness. Application projects include (but are not limited to) creating a collection of the family of algebraic functions using an online graphing calculator and finishing the binder of reflections and evidence of the learner's personal mastery of all of the Algebra 1 content standards. (from Maafi)

Algebra 2: Algebra 2 learners reported that the standardized tests were very focused on probability and logarithm problems. Learners felt generally strong about their preparedness for the logarithms, but not so for probability. Feedback from the learners has prompted a deep and continued discussion in the math department about how to tailor the Carnegie learning program with learner needs at ACLC. While it is true the standardized tests are to be administered when 85% of the course is completed, our learners want to be prepared for ALL of it. To this end, we may adjust our program so that learners can be sure to see all content areas that we expect to see on the test. A challenge, but the learners have expressed that they really feel at their best when they have been exposed to all test concept areas. What an eager group we have. We will close out the year with the much anticipated Function Art Project where a learner uses one of the standard algebra functions to create a piece of art by rotating, shifting, dilating and stretching that one function. Learners must show all function manipulations used to create the art and the learner must use a minimum of 25 translations of the function. This final project always brings out the latent Picasso, Esche, Monet and others in the Algebra 2 learner's synergy of math and creativity. (from Maafi)

Science 7/8: On with our Astronomy unit which culminates in the Annual Astronomy Overnight held at ACLC on the evening of Friday June 1st, through Saturday, June 2, 2007. The first 35 Science 7/8 learners in good standing (C or better grade average) to turn in their permission slips have an opportunity to share in special astronomy observations that require darkness and/or extended time. In addition, the evening features an indoor planetarium show in a Star Dome provided by the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland.

Stay tuned for the details from your learners. (from Maafi)

Chemistry: Learners have finished learning the basics about atoms, chemical bonding, energy, the periodic table, gas laws, kinetics, patterns of change (acids and bases), chemical equilibrium, solutions, and nuclear chemistry. Major topics for the remainder of the semester include electrochemistry and stoichiometry. In early May we began reviewing for the California Standards Test which learners will all be taking in mid-May. The year will conclude with a series of interesting and fun lab and project activities. (from Paul)

Physics CP/HP: Crunch time for the model roller coasters is on! We will compete in the Great America Physics Day Roller Coaster Contest on Friday, May 18th, 2007. Parent chaperones are welcome! Teams have been working feverishly to get their coasters ready for competition. Learners will also complete "on the ride" assignments while they are at the park, using accelerometers that are able to take acceleration readings while they ride the rides. In addition, our Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta is set for June 6, 2007. Learners should be working away at their team boats as we read! Join us at the Encinal Swim Center from 11:40 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. for what promises to be an exiting experience! (from Maafi)

Biology: In the past month of biology learners gathered in groups to research an infectious disease. The aim of these group projects was for learners to have a better understanding of the pathogens that cause disease and how our bodies fight disease. Our presentations ranged from necrotizing fascitis to the ebola virus. While researching the immune system and its multi-tiered response to infection learners reviewed for the state mandated testing. In the coming weeks we will begin learning more about anatomy through various labs and we will learn more about human reproduction. You should be receiving the permission slips soon. (Mike)

Learning to Learn: As the weather has been changing and spring fever had fully set in learners can become uneasy in their seats. In the last activity learners were asked to reflect upon how time, space and surroundings effect their well being and effectiveness. This analysis would provide for the foundation of arts projects where learners created a clock that illustrated the daily events that shape our days and our thoughts. Ask to see you learners Art Clock project. (from Mike)

Humanities 6: The sixth graders are beginning a new novel, The Adventures of Ulysses. We’ll be doing several activities about the ancient Greek world and Greek mythology, including a map of Ulysses’ journey and a mock Greek Olympics. (from Lora)

* Contributions of the Greeks (pg. 383-389)

Creative Writing Wheel (7^th Grade): Recently, the class has taken a walk and written a piece using their senses. We’ve also written pieces in response to music from a variety of genres and are working on creating comic books. (from Lora)

Humanities 7/8: We have started a poetry unit. Students will write several poems and make them into a poetry book as an end of the year project. In history we are studying the Renaissance and then the learners will do a group project about the Enlightenment. (from Syl)

We are finishing off the year with various Catcher in the Rye assignments and projects that fulfill both Current Life Issues and English 9. Additionally, learners will be working in small groups on an end of the year newspaper project by creating newspapers that focus on learners in the Center, and local, national and international news items. Hopefully, they will get a chance to learn about their peers through this assignment and they will create a fun way for other learners in the Center to learn about each other too!

It is hard to believe the year is coming to an end! This ninth grade class has really been a lot of fun, and I expect great things from them as they transition into their Sophomore year!

Learners are closing out the year by reading a final novel, Things Fall Apart or The Good Earth, and working on a poetry anthology project. Learners will gather poems about a subject of their choice, write about them, include various other components and put them together into a Personal Poetry Anthology. We will also be spending time in class looking at a variety of poetic styles and learners will be trying their hand at writing a few poems too. Working with poetry is a great way to end the year and learners usually produce insightful anthologies that they have to arm wrestle away from me at the end of the year.

I have really enjoyed working with this group of learners this year. They have a great deal of brainpower and a lot of heart, which is a great combination! Teaming the periods with Jake has been fantastic too and is something we plan to continue next year.

Honors English 10: We have just finished Daughter of Fortune. Our next and final novel will be The Alchemist. (from Syl)

Honors English 11: We are just finishing up the novel A Yellow Raft in Blue Water and, time permitting, we will close out the year with the novel House Made of Dawn and the movie Pow-Wow Highway. I feel like I have really put this group "through their paces" and they continue to surprise me with their keen insights and determined work ethic. I have really had a great time, and I extend a sincere thank you to all the learners in this class for humoring me through nine novels that are not about happy subjects. As Seniors, next year, I predict this powerhouse class will be a true force to be reckoned with, and I expect they will awe us in many ways!

English 12 (Senior Seminar): The seniors are pursuing independent novels of their choice. We’re also watching a variety of films on the theme of war and exploring the different ways history is represented in media. (from Lora)

Creative Writing: The older writers continue to explore a variety of genres through assigned prompts. (from Lora)

2. Understand the role of appeasement, nonintervention (isolationism), and the domestic distractions in Europe and the United States prior to the outbreak of World War II.
3. Identify and locate the Allied and Axis powers on a map and discuss the major turning points of the war, the principal theaters of conflict, key strategic decisions, and the resulting war conferences and political resolutions, with emphasis on the importance of geographic factors.
4. Describe the political, diplomatic, and military leaders during the war (e.g., Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Emperor Hirohito, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower).
5. Analyze the Nazi policy of pursuing racial purity, especially against the European Jews; its transformation into the Final Solution; and the Holocaust that resulted in the murder of six million Jewish civilians.
6. Discuss the human costs of the war, with particular attention to the civilian and military losses in Russia, Germany, Britain, the United States, China, and Japan.

American Government:

Topics:

1. Discuss the meaning and importance of a free and responsible press.

2. Describe the roles of broadcast, print, and electronic media, including the Internet, as means of communication in American politics.

Visual Communication - 7th grade Wheel: Learners have completed a self-portrait assignment using color for effect and emphasis. Now, they are putting the finishing touches on their first three portfolio pieces after deciding on a theme to unify their work. Learners wrote descriptions of their intent which will be the basis for the Artist’s Statement that introduces their portfolios. We will move on to an assignment that challenges them to create a piece of art in each of five subject categories: landscape, abstract, still life, character design and human figure. This exploration in subject matter should help to generate ideas for the work they’ll be doing on their portfolios. STAR testing breaks the month of May in half, so, I expect we will return to complete this last assignment and begin the final portfolio work by the middle of May. Portfolios are due on June 6th. (from Carrie)

Visual Communication – High School: We had a class field trip to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on May 1 where we saw the Picasso and American Art exhibit and an exhibit from the permanent collection entitled Matisse and Beyond – a wide-ranging exhibit featuring many well-known expressionist, modern and post modern artworks by brilliant artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rene Magritte, Josef Albers, Rothko, Joan Mitchell, Jim Dine, Claes Oldenburg, Max Ernst, Georgia O’Keefe and many others. Our final assignment is a logo design project. Learners have been asked to do some research and reading on the components of logo design, collect logos that exemplify those components and then choose a product, producers, event or concept and design a logo that identifies the idea with visual impact. Results should be very interesting. Finally, learners will dedicate themselves to their final portfolio, due June 8th. They have begun to prepare for this by writing their portfolio proposals and conducting individual conferences with me to refine ideas. (from Carrie)

Next we turn to our Public Service Announcement assignment. Learners are creating 30 second spots on various topics ranging from global warming awareness to anti-apathy campaigns targeting young people. Some learners are making anti-tobacco/smoking ads that will be entered in a contest sponsored by the Alameda Council of Schools.

After our wonderful excursion to the San Francisco International Asian American Festival in April, we decided to hit the film festival circuit again, this time at the San Francisco International Film Festival, one of the longest running festivals in the country. We had a blast and were very impressed and entertained by the documentary, "The Third Monday in October", about middle school students running for class president. The candidates were from schools in San Francisco and Marin, in California and in Austin, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia. It was a great cross section of kids and cultures. The learners could not resist a lunch of sushi from a Japantown supermarket, after which we ran to the bus stop to catch our ride back to the center in time for Maafi's sixth period math class!

As the end of the year quickly approaches, the wheel learners are adding music and titles to their video projects. We're starting to plan the movie night so if you have any suggestions for a date please send them along. (from Josiah)

Digital Music: Both Wheel and Advanced learners are busy working on songs for the class CDs, which will be ready by the semester’s end. Both albums are going to be amazing – the tracks are coming along really well, and the diversity and overall quality of music being composed is really impressive. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for both albums next month! (from David)

Jeanette Cazares - UC Berkeley

Cullen Coyne - UC Berkeley

Hameed Abbasi - UCLA

Shira Kharrazi - U of Miami (academic and sport scholarship)

Ashley Mapp - St Johns

Tommy Sanchez - SF State

Eric Ramos - Purdue (sports scholarship)

Megan Basler - Holy Names College

Caitlin VandeWalle - UC Santa Cruz

Jason Scott - U of Oregon

Three of our seniors are generously offering to facilitate a college application night. Jeanette Cazares, Cullen Coyne and Hameed Abbasi have been through the UC application process. Both Cullen and Jeanette have been accepted at UC Berkeley and Hameed has been accepted at UCLA. This information night will take place before the end of the year. We will let you know when the time is established.

We are creating next year’s master schedule of classes. I have spoken with all incoming 9th through 12th grade learners. I handed out a copy of transcript, high school graduation requirements and a course selection form. We discussed what classes will be offered at ACLC and what Encinal has to offer. Most learners have handed back their forms to me. We are hoping to be able to hire a Spanish 1 teacher next year to accommodate our learners who want to begin fulfilling their foreign language requirement. It has been difficult getting these learners into Encinal Spanish 1 and 2 classes this past year. Many of our older learners are already signing up for classes at the college for summer and fall session.

I am continuing to meet with middle school girls in a group for lunch on a weekly basis. What started out to be a more structured process has become a fluid and very relaxed time with the girls who just want a place to eat and hang out. We usually have a topic and more or less stick to it for discussion. I have a junior, Leanna Francis who has kept the group going the two times I have had to miss group. Thank you Leanna.

I offer this information again as a reminder for those of you who have getting into a four year college as a goal. For those of you who are thinking of the many vocational programs the community colleges have to offer remember that following these suggestions is a good way to keep doors open.

The road to college starts as early as in your 9th grade year. Below are some guidelines for each year in high school to prepare for the colleges/universities you have your eye on!

√ Develop strong study skills

√ Become aware of course offerings and challenge yourself academically

√ Get involved in school activities.

√ Begin community service requirement for high school graduation searching for meaningful experiences.

√ Take the PSAT

√ Take challenging courses offered at school

√ Meet with the counselor to discuss your course selections

√ Explore summer programs that develop your interests and reinforce skills

√ Search for colleges that match your interests and preferences and attend college fairs and college visits to your school

11th Grade

√ Do your best on the PSAT in October and analyze your strengths and weaknesses when scores arrive in December.

√ Prepare for spring SAT, ACT, and any AP exams

√ Take college courses and honors courses whenever possible.

√ Seek leadership positions at school and in the community.

√ Develop a preliminary college interest list with your counselor as well as possible majors.

√ Visit colleges of interest.

√ Plan a summer of meaning, merit and fun.

√ Plan senior year class schedule taking advantage of the most rigorous courses available and incorporating college classes

√ Consider a focus for your senior project.

√ Maintain a strong GPA throughout senior year

√ Be sure to check your high school transcript for accuracy.

√ Complete your college applications and send them out (October – November)

√ Request letters of recommendation from teachers and employers if needed.

√ Perfect your personal statement

√ Last chance to take the SAT or ACT (October – December)

√ Consider your family’s financial needs (fill out the FASFA form, project costs and resources, consider educational loans)

√ Apply for scholarships

√ Work on your senior project and portfolio

√ Congratulations on college acceptances! Accept one offer, reject the rest and choose wisely.

√ Arrange for on-campus housing

√ Establish a budget or allowance plan for school

√ Have a great summer and keep in touch with ACLC!

- Gail Smith-Pratt

The staff would like to remind everyone that all learners in grades 6 - 12 are required by California state law to attend school from the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those learners who have college classes are eligible for our Off Campus Contract, but their request to leave campus to attend classes must first be approved by the Curriculum Committee of our Governing Board. The necessary paperwork has been handed out and must be returned and approved before learners can legally be away from the ACLC during the school day.

Those learners without college classes or other eligible Off Campus activities are expected to be at ACLC by 8 a.m. each school day; those learners who have an unexcused tardy, will be assigned detention. Habitual tardiness may result in more serious consequences.

Please help the ACLC abide by the state laws for compulsory school attendance by getting learners to school on time and reminding them to sign in each day.

If your Learner is taking ANY courses at Encinal High school, you must call Encinal High at 510-748-4023 to report all ABSENCES AND TARDIES FOR THE PERIOD TAKEN.

Last Name        CALL

A-L                  510-748-4023 x 3108 Pat Rios

M-Z                  510-748-4023 x 3109 Theresa Lee

School Phone#’s & Emails