Connecting Waters Charter School
February 2003
Sherri Nelson, Director

Funding: Great news!!! It is official! The State Board of Education has granted our charter school full funding for the 2002/2003 school year! Charters that are in their first year only receive the funding determination for one year. Next year we will be able to apply for more than a one year funding determination. Additional instructional funds will be deposited this week!

Testing: We still have several assessments to be administered this year. I want to thank you in advance for your help in making testing a success! Your student's attendance is essential to the success of our school. Testing is one of the means by which the state validates the success of our school. CAHSEE will be administered on March 4, 5, & 6 for 10th and 11th graders; STAR Writing Test will be administered on March 18th for grades 4 & 7; STAR Multiple Choice will be administered during the week of April 7th for grades 2- 11; Physical Fitness will be administered in the spring for grades 5, 7 and 9.

Classes: The learning centers have great classes for grades 3-7 scheduled to help your students prepare for the writing portion of the STAR. The cost for this class will not be taken out of the instructional funds. Other school sponsored classes are available. These classes will be posted on the listserve!

Accreditation: CWCS is seeking accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We have scheduled our initial visit on Tuesday, March 4.

Yearbook: It's not too late! Please send activity pictures and single pictures of your students to be placed in the yearbook TODAY. Mark the back of your picture with student's name and grade. We will have a separate 8th & 12th grade page honoring theses graduates. Send your payment of $15.00 and pictures to Leita Theodore, yearbook coordinator, 2808 Fleming Court, Modesto, Ca 95356.

Graduation: I would like to congratulate all of our January graduates. I am so pleased with all that you have accomplished. You are the first students to graduate from Connecting Waters. You will always be remembered in a special way. I wish you much success in all that you endeavor to do!

We are so happy that many of our January graduates will be participating in our graduation ceremony on May 22 in Waterford. Please come to the information and planning meeting Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will take place at the Modesto Learning Center, 2600 Mitchell Road Suite G in Ceres. Some have been asking about an 8th grade graduation ceremony. Please contact your ES and our office if you are interested in coordinating this event. We will help to make this a memorable event.

Group Educational Activities: School sponsored activities include- skiing at Dodge Ridge on February 26th and March 6 and Sierra at Tahoe on March 11 (paperwork deadline is Feb. 11).

Field Trips: Several parents have volunteered to coordinate non school sponsored activities. Last month Earlene Gregory coordinated a field trip to the Oakdale Hershey Factory. This was quite a success. Earlene thank you for doing this for the students of Connecting Waters!

I appreciate all of our parents for coordinating these trips. Thanks for a job well done!