A Bit of Weather & History

Well that was quite a night! I, for one, am tired of this wind and rain and will be super happy to see some sun.

But did you know that in the winter of 1861-62 California was hit with a 43 day storm that put parts of it under water for 6 months?

These two photos are of Sacramento during that flood.

Scientific American has an article about it here. And just Googling "California flood 1861" will bring you lots more information.

Upcoming & Notable

• PFT Testing - (Grades 5, 7 & 9) Wednesday, February 22 - Grace Church in Jackson, on the hour at 9, 10, 11 & 12.
• LP 6 Ends - Friday, February 24

• Curriculum Vendor Fair - Monday, March 6 - (New Wire page with vendor list)
• Rescue Project Fair - Wednesday, March 8 (Flyer)
• SBAC Testing in Jackson - Monday, March 13 - Wednesday, March 15 - (9:00 - 12:00)
• SBAC Testing in Rescue - Tuesday, March 21 - Friday, March 24 - (1:00 - 4:00)
• LP 7 Ends - Friday, March 24
• Last day to order curriculum, computers and vouchers - Friday, March 31
• For other ordering deadlines click here

This Week's Meeting Schedule

This is one of those LPs with four school weeks, so there are no regularly scheduled family meetings. I will be doing paperwork, scheduling make-up meetings and working at the PFT testing. I am available for help, or extra meetings, as needed.

Monday 2/21
President's Day - School Closed

Tuesday
Office Day

Wednesday
PFT Testing  (5, 7 & 9th Grade only)
Grace Church in Jackson
Wyatt - 1:15
Hunter - 2:30

Thursday

Jackson Library
Grace B. - 2:00

Friday

Office Day

Rescue Project Fair

You are invited to participate in a homeschool Project Fair in Rescue.  It is open to Visions students of all grades.  This fair will be a wonderful opportunity for students to display their work and for families to connect with each other.   Please bring a completed project to display. Projects may be from any subject area, not just science.

When: Wednesday, March 8th, 2017, 3:00 – 5:00

Where: Foothills United Methodist Church, 3301 Green Valley Road, Rescue, CA 95672

Link to Flyer with information on how to register: Project Fair Flyer

Upcoming & Notable

• President's Day - No School - Monday, February 20
• PFT Testing - (Grades 5, 7 & 9) Wednesday, February 22 - Grace Church in Jackson, on the hour at 9, 10, 11 & 12.
• LP 6 Ends - Friday, February 24

• Curriculum Vendor Fair - Monday, March 6
• Rescue Project Fair - Wednesday, March 8 (Flyer)
• SBAC Testing in Jackson - Monday, March 13 - Wednesday, March 15 - (9:00 - 12:00)
• SBAC Testing in Rescue - Tuesday, March 21 - Friday, March 24 (1:00 - 4:00)
• LP 7 Ends - Friday, March 24
• Last day to order curriculum, computers and vouchers - Friday, March 31
• For other ordering deadlines click here

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 2/13
Lincoln's Birthday - No School

Tuesday
Pollock Pines
Alex - 11:00
Somerset
Yarrow - 1:00
Placerville Library
Gage - 2:45

Wednesday
Ione
Zora - 11:00
Lilly - 12:05
Madelynn - 1:30
Charles - 2:35

Thursday

Jackson - Burger King
Billy - 11:15
Jackson Library
Emma - 12:30
Connor - 1:30
Grace B. - 2:30

Friday
Carmichael/Google Hangouts
Gage -12:30

Voting Open...

Click here for the Wire page with all of the info.

This Just In...

I just heard at our small group meeting today...

Next year's student budget will be increased to $2,000!

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 2/6
CT Small Group Meeting

Tuesday
Ione
Justin - 11:00
Alexis & Tyler - 12:05
Gage - 2:30

Wednesday
Jackson Library
Isabeau & McKenna - 11:00
Wyatt - 1:30
Emily - 2:30

Thursday
Ione (Clark's)
Jezreel - 12:00
Jaye - 1:00
Hunter - 2:05
Plymouth
David - 3:30

Friday

Office Day

Testing Info

SBAC Information

• Grades 3 - 8 and 11
• What Parents and Students Should Know
• SBAC Practice Tests
• Testing in Jackson scheduled for March 13 - 15
• Testing in Rescue scheduled for March 21 - 24
• Makeups in Rescue and Carmichael - April 25 - 27

California Science Pilot Test CAST - (Replaces the CST)

• Grades 5, 8, and 12 (might be different high school grade next year) will test this year
• The test is computer-based (no longer paper-pencil like the CST was)
• Because this year, and more than likely next year, is a test of the test, no scores will be reported
• Scores are not reported, but the CAST will be counted in our participation reports
• At our testing sites grades 5 and 8 will take the CAST on Day 1 of testing and then proceed onto the SBAC. Grade 12 will take the CAST on the final day of testing at each site to ensure we have enough chromebooks and space available. 

Physical Fitness Testing (PFT)

• Grades 5, 7 and 9. Regional PFT Testing available this year.
• PE Testing will be offered on 2/22 at Grace Church in Jackson. The tests will run on the hour from 9 to 12. I will be emailing all 5th, 7th, and 9th graders this week about it.
• More info about the PFT.

School Work Samples Reminder

I'll be gathering official school work samples for semester 2 during our LP6 meeting.

Here is a little checklist to help you prepare.

You will need one sample per subject that:

• matches the assignments and/or learning units on the semester plan

• is on 8.5 x 11 paper

• is an example of student work (not multiple choice tests or quizzes)

• includes a summary if it is an image of a PE, art, music, or directed project sample.
• shows evidence of parent/guardian comments and/or grading.


Remember that I will be placing a sticker on the upper right hand corner of the paper, so please don't put your grades or comments there. Thanks!

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 1/30
Office Day

Tuesday
Ione
Austin & Dylan - 10:00
Joseph - 12:05
Tiffany & Madison - 1:10

Wednesday
Ione
Grace - 11:00
Bonnie - 12:10
Charlotte - 1:30
Khloe & Sadie - 2:35

Thursday
Ione - Clark's
Leila - 11:00
Lucas - 12:05
Ione
Jasmine & Roxie - 1:30

Friday
Office Day

Upcoming & Notable

• Fall Semester Ends - Wednesday, January 25
• Teacher Work Days - No School - Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27
• Spring Semester Begins - Monday, January 30

• Lincoln's Birthday - No School - Monday, February 13
• President's Day - No School - Monday, February 20
• LP 6 Ends - Friday, February 24
• Last Day to Order Curriculum - Friday, February 24
• For other ordering deadlines click here

Jackson Tutoring Update

Tutoring hours at our Jackson site are changing.

Beginning the week of January 16 the site will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until further notice.

Please visit the Tutoring Flyer to review all of our locations and hours.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 1/16
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

Tuesday
Pollock Pines
Alex - 11:00
Somerset
Yarrow - 1:00
Emily - 2:15

Wednesday
Ione
Zora - 11:00
Lilly - 12:05
Madelynn - 1:30
Charles - 2:35

Thursday

Jackson Library
Hunter - 10:30
Billy - 11:30
Emma - 12:30
Connor - 1:30
Grace B. - 2:30

Home School Parent Meet Up

From the WIRE...

Dawn Rodrigues is our current Parent Ambassador. The Parent Ambassador is responsible for coordinating local meetups with other families and students. We encourage you to join a meetup to network with local home school families, build a community of support, share ideas and resources, learn best practices from other groups and provide feedback to Visions.

The next meet up is scheduled for:

Thursday, February 2, 2017
9:30 – 11:00
Christ Community Church
5025 Manzanita Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608

This meet up will include a veteran panel of home school parents. There will be a Q&A session and round table discussion. Please join us. Every parent voice is valued!

Please contact Dawn at parentambassador@viedu.org to RSVP and ask questions.

I know this is too far for most of you to attend. I hear that there are future meetups planned closer to area. I will keep you posted.

Upcoming & Notable

• School Resumes - Monday, January 9
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School - Monday, January 16
• Fall Semester Ends - Wednesday, January 25
• Teacher Work Days - No School - Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27
• Spring Semester Begins - Monday, January 3

• Lincoln's Birthday - No School - Monday, February 13
• President's Day - No School - Monday, February 20
• LP 6 Ends - Friday, February 24
• Last Day to Order Curriculum - Friday, February 24
• For other ordering deadlines click here

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 1/9
Office Day

Tuesday
Ione
Joshua - 11:00
Alexis & Tyler - 12:05
Gage - 2:30

Wednesday
Jackson Library
Isabeau & McKenna - 11:00
Wyatt - 1:30
Emily - 2:30

Thursday
Ione (Clark's)
Jezreel - 12:00
Jaye - 1:00
Plymouth
David - 3:30

Friday

Office Day

Upcoming & Notable

• Jackson Lego Classes - open for enrollment today!
• Winter Break - December 26 - January 6

• School Resumes - Monday, January 9
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School - Monday, January 16
• Fall Semester Ends - Wednesday, January 25
• Teacher Work Days - No School - Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27
• Spring Semester Begins - Monday, January 30

Early Testing Information

It's early days for testing information, so some if it may change. I will update the information as it comes to me.

SBAC Information

• What Parents and Students Should Know
• SBAC Practice Tests
• Grades 3 - 8 and 11
• Testing in Jackson scheduled for March 13 - 15
• Testing in Rescue scheduled for March 21 - 24
• Makeups in Rescue and Carmichael - April 25 - 27

California Science Pilot Test CAST - (Replaces the CST)

• The test is computer-based (no longer paper-pencil like the CST was)
• Because this year, and more than likely next year, is a test of the test, no scores will be reported
• Scores are not reported, but the CAST will be counted in our participation reports
• Grades 5, 8, and 12 (might be different high school grade next year) will test this year
• At our testing sites grades 5 and 8 will take the CAST on Day 1 of testing and then proceed onto the SBAC. Grade 12 will take the CAST on the final day of testing at each site to ensure we have enough chromebooks and space available. 

Physical Fitness Testing (PFT)

• Grades 5, 7 & 9. Regional PFT Testing available this year.
• Tentative testing date of 2/22 at Grace Church in Jackson. More info to follow.
• More info about the PFT.