New Fund Raiser!
We are now selling Valentine's Day candy from See's Candy. We did great with the Christmas sales and hope to repeat that with this effort. We haven't really sold much yet, it's a bit early, but please help us out as you did for Christmas so we can buy even more equipment for the school.
Thanks,
Pastor Bob
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Thursday, November 23, 2006
We've upgraded our School blog and some recent posts were lost, so here's a bit of what has gone on lately.
We took the children on a field trip to Our Way Ceramics. Each student bought a molded piece of greenware, brought it back to school and after Pastor Bob fired it in the kiln, they were able to glaze it. The students also saw how to make a mold and open it. It was very instructional and fun.
We also had a school wide science experiment mixing Mentos and Diet Pepsi and watching it explode over Pastor Bob.
We just finished taking pictures for the school children.
We came back from the ACSI Convention this week and are now enjoying our Thanksgiving Vacation.
Have a wonderful time with your families.
We took the children on a field trip to Our Way Ceramics. Each student bought a molded piece of greenware, brought it back to school and after Pastor Bob fired it in the kiln, they were able to glaze it. The students also saw how to make a mold and open it. It was very instructional and fun.
We also had a school wide science experiment mixing Mentos and Diet Pepsi and watching it explode over Pastor Bob.
We just finished taking pictures for the school children.
We came back from the ACSI Convention this week and are now enjoying our Thanksgiving Vacation.
Have a wonderful time with your families.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
We have beta tested our Distance Learning program for one semester and it has gone very well. We are now able to home school students who have computers through this program. It also is a great complement to our regular campus students who now have a very easy way to do their homework on their own computers. This also is a boon to students who are ill for extended periods of time. Often they can still work at home on the computer. It has been a great new service for our students and parents. Feel free to inquire if you wish to add this to your child's program or if you are interested in home schooling through this online distance learning program.
562-868-2398
562-868-2398
All parents of high school students should be aware that the State of California now requires all high school students to pass Algebra to graduate. Public schools must have all students pass an exit exam to graduate. As of this time, private schools are not required to give exit exams to their students.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
One in five might not graduate in 2006
By Kevin Butler
Staff writer
LONG BEACH — More than one-fifth of California's high school seniors are at risk of not graduating because they have not passed the exit exam required for a diploma, according to a state-commissioned independent study released Friday.
Nearly 100,000 seniors began the school year without having passed the high school exit exam, a graduation requirement starting in 2006, according to the report.
Perhaps half of that number ultimately won't don caps and gowns this summer, including substantial numbers of disabled students and those not fluent in English, according to the report by the Human Resources Research Organization.
In the Long Beach Unified School District, 25 percent of high school seniors 1,615 began this school year having not passed the exam, which includes an English and math component, according to district officials.
The LBUSD and other area school districts have created special classes during the day, after school and on Saturdays to prepare the struggling seniors.
"I think given what we know about how to prepare kids for the test, we are doing an effective job," said Lynn Winters, LBUSD assistant superintendent of research.
Seniors will get up to three more opportunities to pass the exam before graduation time.
In the Downey Unified School District, 23 percent of seniors have not passed. The figure is 26 percent in the Norwalk-La Mirada District. In the ABC Unified School District, 19 percent haven't passed, but that figure does not include special education students.
The independent evaluator used estimates to calculate the passing rates because the state lacks unique student identifiers and cannot track individual pupils.
The estimates may be two percentage points higher or lower than the actual totals, the organization reported.
Forty-nine percent of California's English-language learners and 65 percent of special education students have not passed the test, the report stated.
Blacks and Latinos also have struggled. Thirty-seven percent of black seniors and 32 percent of Latinos haven't passed, the report estimated.
Economically disadvantaged seniors also have fallen behind, with 34 percent not passing the exam.
The report noted that among special education students, those
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with more severe disabilities are faring worse on the test than those who are able to spend more time in regular classrooms.
The report fuels a growing debate about the extent of alternatives that should be offered to seniors who fail to graduate this summer. Among the possible options for those seniors is an alternative diploma or graduation certificate, the report said.
The LBUSD has a certificate of completion, but only for special education students, Winters said.
Extending the certificate to other students would require a change in state law, she said.
The report's other suggestions include completing a senior-year portfolio project, successfully finishing a special summer course after 12th grade and taking additional years of high school.
In the LBUSD, seniors who don't pass the test at graduation time can study at adult schools for future tries at the exam.
Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, said the state Department of Education will study the alternatives suggested in the report, but that the exam requirement is still in place.
"While it is appropriate to consider these options, it is critical that in doing so we keep one core principle front and center: Awarding a student a diploma without the knowledge and skills to back it up does a great disservice to that student," he said.
The discussion of alternatives should not be seen as a license for seniors to "slack off," said Hilary McLean, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education. Students will still have to show mastery of the test concepts, she said.
"The California high school exit exam is here to stay," she said.
By Kevin Butler
Staff writer
LONG BEACH — More than one-fifth of California's high school seniors are at risk of not graduating because they have not passed the exit exam required for a diploma, according to a state-commissioned independent study released Friday.
Nearly 100,000 seniors began the school year without having passed the high school exit exam, a graduation requirement starting in 2006, according to the report.
Perhaps half of that number ultimately won't don caps and gowns this summer, including substantial numbers of disabled students and those not fluent in English, according to the report by the Human Resources Research Organization.
In the Long Beach Unified School District, 25 percent of high school seniors 1,615 began this school year having not passed the exam, which includes an English and math component, according to district officials.
The LBUSD and other area school districts have created special classes during the day, after school and on Saturdays to prepare the struggling seniors.
"I think given what we know about how to prepare kids for the test, we are doing an effective job," said Lynn Winters, LBUSD assistant superintendent of research.
Seniors will get up to three more opportunities to pass the exam before graduation time.
In the Downey Unified School District, 23 percent of seniors have not passed. The figure is 26 percent in the Norwalk-La Mirada District. In the ABC Unified School District, 19 percent haven't passed, but that figure does not include special education students.
The independent evaluator used estimates to calculate the passing rates because the state lacks unique student identifiers and cannot track individual pupils.
The estimates may be two percentage points higher or lower than the actual totals, the organization reported.
Forty-nine percent of California's English-language learners and 65 percent of special education students have not passed the test, the report stated.
Blacks and Latinos also have struggled. Thirty-seven percent of black seniors and 32 percent of Latinos haven't passed, the report estimated.
Economically disadvantaged seniors also have fallen behind, with 34 percent not passing the exam.
The report noted that among special education students, those
Advertisement
with more severe disabilities are faring worse on the test than those who are able to spend more time in regular classrooms.
The report fuels a growing debate about the extent of alternatives that should be offered to seniors who fail to graduate this summer. Among the possible options for those seniors is an alternative diploma or graduation certificate, the report said.
The LBUSD has a certificate of completion, but only for special education students, Winters said.
Extending the certificate to other students would require a change in state law, she said.
The report's other suggestions include completing a senior-year portfolio project, successfully finishing a special summer course after 12th grade and taking additional years of high school.
In the LBUSD, seniors who don't pass the test at graduation time can study at adult schools for future tries at the exam.
Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, said the state Department of Education will study the alternatives suggested in the report, but that the exam requirement is still in place.
"While it is appropriate to consider these options, it is critical that in doing so we keep one core principle front and center: Awarding a student a diploma without the knowledge and skills to back it up does a great disservice to that student," he said.
The discussion of alternatives should not be seen as a license for seniors to "slack off," said Hilary McLean, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education. Students will still have to show mastery of the test concepts, she said.
"The California high school exit exam is here to stay," she said.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Our school is off to a good start. We have a great bunch of students this year. Something exciting is in the air. As you all know, our curriculum, grades 3-12, is mostly computerized, which is exciting in itself. But soon we hope to offer students and parents the opportunity to do their homework online if they have a broadband connection. We are installing a DSL line next week and after we beta test it, we should be on our way to offering this.
What's even better is that we will be able to offer Distance Learning to anyone in the country or the world, for that matter, who has a broadband connection. After installing some software, people can homeschool through our school, taking all their classes through us with a live teacher on the other side, standing by to help them. Stay tuned for more information.
What's even better is that we will be able to offer Distance Learning to anyone in the country or the world, for that matter, who has a broadband connection. After installing some software, people can homeschool through our school, taking all their classes through us with a live teacher on the other side, standing by to help them. Stay tuned for more information.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Silent Auction
You won't want to miss our Silent Auction Fundraiser. Prior to our 7:30 meeting, we will have our Silent Auction at 7:00 p.m. When you enter the cafeteria, you will see tables with items on them. In front of each item will be a paper with lines for you to write on. The first person will sign their name and what they would like to bid on that item. Another person comes by and if he's willing to pay more for that item, he puts his name down and what he will pay/bid for the item etc. Sometime before we go in to the Parent's Meeting a bell will ring from a timer. When it goes off, all bids are final and people with the highest bids get the item at that price. There are many nice items that I think you'll like.
Pastor Bob
You won't want to miss our Silent Auction Fundraiser. Prior to our 7:30 meeting, we will have our Silent Auction at 7:00 p.m. When you enter the cafeteria, you will see tables with items on them. In front of each item will be a paper with lines for you to write on. The first person will sign their name and what they would like to bid on that item. Another person comes by and if he's willing to pay more for that item, he puts his name down and what he will pay/bid for the item etc. Sometime before we go in to the Parent's Meeting a bell will ring from a timer. When it goes off, all bids are final and people with the highest bids get the item at that price. There are many nice items that I think you'll like.
Pastor Bob
School starts at 8:30 a.m. on September 12. Please make sure the kids are well prepared. You need to be at the School's Parent Night on Thursday, Sept. 8. We will be giving you the new school handbook, going over changes we have made for the new year. There are things you will need to buy by Monday. Children on computers, mostly grades 3-12, need to bring a set of headphones, a new mousepad, and an optional new mouse.
We will be taking an order for new school T-Shirts at this time as well. Until the new school uniforms are ready, you will need to use last year's t-shirts or solid red or white polo shirts with the blue or black pants.
We will be taking an order for new school T-Shirts at this time as well. Until the new school uniforms are ready, you will need to use last year's t-shirts or solid red or white polo shirts with the blue or black pants.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Summer School is almost over! There will be a Parents Meeting on Sept. 8. School begins on Sept. 12.
All students in grades 3-12 will need their own set of headphones. No sharing. Students also need their own Bible, which is to be brought to school every day for chapels.
All September tuition, registration and curriculum must be paid before August 31. Student are not enrolled in class until registration has been paid, all paperwork has been completed and the first month's tuition has been paid.
Two new electives:
1. Ceramics 101 (Beginning) Students will be introduced to the tools and methodology of pottery and ceramics. Students will start with hand building techniques such as molding, coil, slab building in the first semester. Students will make cups, bowls, boxes, tiles, flowers, free style projects and mold on slump and hump molds. Class materials fee $15.00 per semester and a $5.00 firing fee per month.
2. Guitar 101 (Beginning) Students will learn the care and use of the guitar. Students will learn about notes, chords, fret finger placement etc. Requirements: a student guitar with carrying case. Lessons are $10.00 per week.
All students in grades 3-12 will need their own set of headphones. No sharing. Students also need their own Bible, which is to be brought to school every day for chapels.
All September tuition, registration and curriculum must be paid before August 31. Student are not enrolled in class until registration has been paid, all paperwork has been completed and the first month's tuition has been paid.
Two new electives:
1. Ceramics 101 (Beginning) Students will be introduced to the tools and methodology of pottery and ceramics. Students will start with hand building techniques such as molding, coil, slab building in the first semester. Students will make cups, bowls, boxes, tiles, flowers, free style projects and mold on slump and hump molds. Class materials fee $15.00 per semester and a $5.00 firing fee per month.
2. Guitar 101 (Beginning) Students will learn the care and use of the guitar. Students will learn about notes, chords, fret finger placement etc. Requirements: a student guitar with carrying case. Lessons are $10.00 per week.
Monday, July 11, 2005
I found this article very interesting. I guess they don't realize that hundreds of schools and thousands of homeschoolers are already doing this! - Pastor Bob
Arizona School Will Not Use Textbooks
Jul 11, 7:26 AM (ET)
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A high school in Vail will become the state's first all-wireless, all-laptop public school this fall. The 350 students at the school will not have traditional textbooks. Instead, they will use electronic and online articles as part of more traditional teacher lesson plans.
Vail Unified School District's decision to go with an all-electronic school is rare, experts say. Often, cost, insecurity, ignorance and institutional constraints prevent schools from making the leap away from paper.
"The efforts are very sporadic," said Mark Schneiderman, director of education policy for the Software and Information Industry Association. "A minority of communities are doing a good or very good job, but a large number are just not there on a number of levels."
Calvin Baker, superintendent of Vail Unified School District, said the move to electronic materials gets teachers away from the habit of simply marching through a textbook each year.
He noted that the AIMS test now makes the state standards the curriculum, not textbooks. Arizona students will soon need to pass Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards to graduate from high school.
But the move to laptops is not cheap. The laptops cost $850 each, and the district will hand them to 350 students for the entire year. The fast-growing district hopes to have 750 students at the high school eventually.
A set of textbooks runs about $500 to $600, Baker said.
It's not clear how the change to laptops will work, he conceded.
"I'm sure there are going to be some adjustments. But we visited other schools using laptops. And at the schools with laptops, students were just more engaged than at non-laptop schools," he said.
---
On the Net:
Vail Unified School District: http://www.vail.k12.az.us/
---
Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com
Arizona School Will Not Use Textbooks
Jul 11, 7:26 AM (ET)
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A high school in Vail will become the state's first all-wireless, all-laptop public school this fall. The 350 students at the school will not have traditional textbooks. Instead, they will use electronic and online articles as part of more traditional teacher lesson plans.
Vail Unified School District's decision to go with an all-electronic school is rare, experts say. Often, cost, insecurity, ignorance and institutional constraints prevent schools from making the leap away from paper.
"The efforts are very sporadic," said Mark Schneiderman, director of education policy for the Software and Information Industry Association. "A minority of communities are doing a good or very good job, but a large number are just not there on a number of levels."
Calvin Baker, superintendent of Vail Unified School District, said the move to electronic materials gets teachers away from the habit of simply marching through a textbook each year.
He noted that the AIMS test now makes the state standards the curriculum, not textbooks. Arizona students will soon need to pass Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards to graduate from high school.
But the move to laptops is not cheap. The laptops cost $850 each, and the district will hand them to 350 students for the entire year. The fast-growing district hopes to have 750 students at the high school eventually.
A set of textbooks runs about $500 to $600, Baker said.
It's not clear how the change to laptops will work, he conceded.
"I'm sure there are going to be some adjustments. But we visited other schools using laptops. And at the schools with laptops, students were just more engaged than at non-laptop schools," he said.
---
On the Net:
Vail Unified School District: http://www.vail.k12.az.us/
---
Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Dear Parents,
Many of you like to plan your vacation times around ours. There will be a major change this year. The last few years we have taken off 2 days in September to attend out Teacher/Staff training sessions with Alpha Omega. This year, instead of having a separate session, Mr. Kneeland has advised me that AOP is going to hold their classes at the annual ACSI convention in Anaheim. Here is some information about that event:
ACSI Anaheim Convention 2005
Convention Date: Monday and Tuesday, November 21-22
Speakers
Each year, approximately 8,000 Christian School educators attend the ACSI Anaheim Convention located at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Convention features three inspiring general sessions, more than 500 seminars on distinctive topics pertinent to educators, and approximately 350 exhibitors.
As members of ACSI, we will be attending this event instead of the previous one in September. Therefore, Grace Christian Schools will be closed the entire week of Thanksgiving. We will be at the ACSI convention on Monday and Tuesday, receiving our training and we will be closed on Wed., Thurs. and Friday for Thanksgiving. This will be easier for all of us and keeps the days off together in one week. I have never liked to have to stop in September to go to training right after school has begun. So, please plan your vacation or babysitting accordingly.
Many of you like to plan your vacation times around ours. There will be a major change this year. The last few years we have taken off 2 days in September to attend out Teacher/Staff training sessions with Alpha Omega. This year, instead of having a separate session, Mr. Kneeland has advised me that AOP is going to hold their classes at the annual ACSI convention in Anaheim. Here is some information about that event:
ACSI Anaheim Convention 2005
Convention Date: Monday and Tuesday, November 21-22
Speakers
Each year, approximately 8,000 Christian School educators attend the ACSI Anaheim Convention located at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Convention features three inspiring general sessions, more than 500 seminars on distinctive topics pertinent to educators, and approximately 350 exhibitors.
As members of ACSI, we will be attending this event instead of the previous one in September. Therefore, Grace Christian Schools will be closed the entire week of Thanksgiving. We will be at the ACSI convention on Monday and Tuesday, receiving our training and we will be closed on Wed., Thurs. and Friday for Thanksgiving. This will be easier for all of us and keeps the days off together in one week. I have never liked to have to stop in September to go to training right after school has begun. So, please plan your vacation or babysitting accordingly.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Parents,
Please make sure you get your July tuition payments in on time, July 1st, so we can make payroll for our staff. Traditionally, some have been slow to make this last payment because school is out, but that doesn't help us meet our obligations.
Be sure to register in June for next year to save $25.00. Returning students keep the old rate if they prepay, but this is the last month. We need to know who is coming back so we can know how many empty spots we have for new students and in which grade levels they will be.
Thank you for your prompt attention to these matters.
Pastor Bob
Please make sure you get your July tuition payments in on time, July 1st, so we can make payroll for our staff. Traditionally, some have been slow to make this last payment because school is out, but that doesn't help us meet our obligations.
Be sure to register in June for next year to save $25.00. Returning students keep the old rate if they prepay, but this is the last month. We need to know who is coming back so we can know how many empty spots we have for new students and in which grade levels they will be.
Thank you for your prompt attention to these matters.
Pastor Bob
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