Have a Great Summer

 See you in September :)

Congratulations!

You made it to the last week of school!

I wish I could adequately express what a wonderful year this has been for me. I have really enjoyed working with all of you. You are the most dedicated and intelligent group of students I have ever seen. I am so proud of what you have accomplished and learned. I'm even impressed by how you have handled the failures and struggles, and by your perseverance and growth. You are all amazing, interesting, remarkable people, and I am honored to work with you.

Wednesday's Drop Off

I will be at three locations on Wednesday. You can bring me your books and any work you want to have included in your final grade.

The schedule is as follows:

• Benicia Library: From 11 to 12
• Concord Starbucks: From 1 to 2     (1170 Concord Avenue)
• Antioch Library:  From 3 to 4

Anyone is welcome to come to any location. 

Please make sure your books are bundled somehow and clearly marked with your name and your student ID number. 

You can also take your books to the Camel Barn in Benicia on the 22nd of June (10 to 2:30), or return them to the resource center in Carmichael if it is more convenient. 

This Week's Meetings - A Group

Tuesday – Fairfield Public Library
Mario – 10:30
Maryann – 11:30
Belinda – 1:00


Wednesday – Benicia Public Library
Amanda – 11:30
Audrey – 12:30
Michelle – 2:00


Thursday – Tracy Public Library
Curtis – 12 noon
Tylor - 1:30

Alternate Drop Off in Benicia

If you forget to bring me your books, or if Carmichael is just too far to travel to return your computer, you have another option.

Visions and SkyQ representatives will be in Benicia at the Camel Barn Museum one day only to collect materials.

When: Wednesday, June 22 from 10:00 to 2:30
Where: Camel Barn Museum, 2060 Camel Road, Benicia

Please note that this in NOT for graduating seniors. Seniors must have all materials in by their checkout dates this week.

Last Meetings

This week is the last of our regular meetings.

Please make sure that you have completed all of your assignments by your meeting/drop off date.

If you are meeting with me this week, I will provide you with work for the last week of school that you will not need your books for.

Please remember to bring your "returnables" in a bag or box that is clearly marked with your name and student number.

If you are not sure about what you need to return, check your list on Launchpad. All you have to do is click on My Info and then My Returnables. Anything that does not have a return date next to it needs to be returned.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Next Week's Drop Off Schedule

There are no regular meetings the last week of school. Instead I will be at three locations on Wednesday the 14th to pick up work and books.

• Benicia Library: From 11 to 12
• Concord Starbucks: From 1 to 2     (1170 Concord Avenue)
• Antioch Library:  From 3 to 4

Anyone is welcome to come to any location.

Final Push

I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend and are ready for the final push.  We have 13 school days left of the 2011 school year. Let's make them count!

Parents, do you know how to check your students current grades and assignment status? You can do so anytime on Engrade. If you don't know how, drop me an email and I will send you instructions. I am doing my best to grade work daily so all grades are pretty accurate.

LP 9 Progress Grades Posted

LP 9 progress grades have been posted.

To see your LP9 Progress grade:

• Log in to Launchpad
• Click on the My Info link
• Click on My Progress Grades
• Make sure to set the LP to LP9. You may have to change the number in the drop down box and click “Set LP”

Look in the progress grade column of your assignment summary

Don't worry about the assignments average and assignments complete columns. They only refer to work done and graded in launchpad. The progress grade column is accurate. 

Your Engrade grade may be different from your LP9 Progress grade as it may include work that has been done in LP10.

Let me know if you have any questions!

This Week's Meetings - B Group

Tuesday – Antioch Public Library

Anthony - 12:15
Jorge – 1:30

Tyler – 2:30

Cynthia – 3:30

Wednesday – Benicia Public Library

Anastassia – 11:30

Audrey – 12:30

Sara – 1:00

Jalila – 2:00

Thursday – Martinez/Concord

Alex – 11:00  home

Alissia – 1:00 – Starbucks 

Margaret– 2:30 Starbucks

English 1 and 2 students will be taking their 4th benchmark tests this week.

Pausing Assignments

Pausing assignments can be a convenient way to save your work if you are interrupted. But please, please, try to clear any paused assignments within a week of starting them, and preferably within a day or two.

Launchpad lets me know you have work to be graded by putting a little star next to your information, like this. When you pause an assignment it does the same thing. I can't tell from my student page if your assignment is finished and ready for grading or paused. The problem is that I spend way too much time checking and rechecking to see if paused work has been finished. There are even a few students who have paused work from LP 9 still.

I don't want you to stop using the pause function; I think it is a great tool. I would just like you to think of it as a temporary solution and try to clear all paused assignments within a week of starting them.

Thank you!!

Welcome to the Last LP!!!

Well, you have made it to LP10. How does it feel?

FYI-

• I will be posting LP9 progress grades on Friday.
• There are four weeks of school left.
• There are 18 school days left.
• The last day of school is June 16.
• The first day of school next year is Tuesday, September 6.

Returning Materials

If you have a school computer, you will need to return that to Sky Q.

At the end of the year, you can either return your textbooks to the resource center in Carmichael, or I will return them for you.

If you would like me to return your books, here is what you need to do:

Check your returnables list on Launchpad.

My info > My returnables
This will show you the items that need to be returned to Visions.

Bring those items to me in a bag or box or bundled with string. Make sure your first and last name and student ID # are clearly marked on the bag or the box. I will collect them at our last meeting.

Deadline to Request Extra Credit This Friday @ 5pm

If you are interested in earning extra credit to improve your end of year grades, here is what you need to do:

• Make sure you are up to date in all of your assignments. No extra credit will be given to students who are behind in their regular work. (ask if you aren't sure)

• Look at your grades and decide which subject or subjects you would like to earn extra credit in.

• Email me on or before Friday, May 27 at 5 p.m. with the subject(s) you would like to earn points for, and a topic you are interested in researching. I will assign you a project based on that information.

English 1 and 2

Don't forget your Projects and Papers!

Due dates are:

English 1
Rough Draft Response to Literature Essay: Assignment 34 - EMAIL TO ME so I can help!
Final Draft Response to Literature Essay: Assignment 35
Project: Assignment 35



English 2
Rough Draft Response to Literature Essay: Assignment 32 - EMAIL TO ME so I can help!
Final Draft Response to Literature Essay: Assignment 33
Project: Assignment 33

English 1 and 2 Students

If you are in English 1 or 2 and are planning your projects, please check out the links below for some alternative ways to present your work.

Go take a look at what other students are doing with posters at:
http://edu.glogster.com/glogpedia/
Let me know if you want to give this a try and I will set up an account for you.

Make a 3D virtual box to display your information at:
http://museumbox.e2bn.org

Use this site to create a concept map of the story:
http://www.spicynodes.org/

Create timelines on the web at:
http://www.timetoast.com/

Connect ideas and pictures to create a poster/presentation/idea at:
http://popplet.com/

Create a book, journal, or notebook in StoryJumper:
http://www.storyjumper.com/

Online journaling:
http://penzu.com/

An online alternative to powerpoint to make and show presentations:
http://prezi.com/

Online Tutoring Available

Are you looking for some extra help to get you through some tough assignments?

I am scheduling online tutoring sessions on Fridays from now till the end of the year to assist students who are struggling or just want to do some work together.

Please email me if you would like to participate and we can schedule a time.

STAR Testing This Week

Are you ready?

Do you know where to go, and when to be there?

Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in!

Please email me if you have any questions!

For a reminder of your site information click here.

No Meetings This Week

Because of STAR testing there are no scheduled meetings this week. That doesn't mean that I'm not available! I am proctoring at the Concord site Tuesday-Thursday and will be checking in with my students that will be testing there.

If you are not testing (seniors), or if I won't be seeing you, I will be calling you either Monday or Friday to check in and see how things are going. We can always do an online meeting Monday or Friday if you would like to.

LP8 Progress Grades Posted

LP 8 progress grades have been posted.
To see your LP8 Progress grade:

• Log in to Launchpad
• Click on the My Info link
• Click on My Progress Grades
• Make sure to set the LP to LP8. You may have to change the number in the drop down box and click “Set LP”

Look in the progress grade column of your assignment summary
Don't worry about the assignments average and assignments complete columns. They only refer to work done and graded in launchpad. The progress grade column is accurate. 


Your Engrade grade may be different from your LP8 Progress grade as it may include work that has been done in LP9.


Let me know if you have any questions!