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COEUR D’ALENE CHARTER ACADEMY
Academy News
VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 4
JANUARY
2015
Principal’s Point of View
I hope that you all had a peaceful, relaxing break.
———————————-
In true Charter fashion, we’re right back at it, and ramping up for semester exams. It’s not too early to start preparing. Material learned over time is far
more likely to “stick” than that “crammed in” at the last moment—not to mention the reduction in stress that comes from being well prepared. I encourage
you to monitor your students’ study and ensure that they are preparing sufficiently.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE :
♦
Registrar
♦
Athletics
♦
♦
♦
Student of the
Month
Alumni
Counselor’s
Corner
♦
Field Trips
♦
Fundraiser
♦
♦
Drama/Speech &
Deb ate
Announcements
We expect that many students will experience some stress as the exams loom on the horizon.
If you have a student who is beginning to show signs of stress, offer encouragement, provide
perspective (not many students will suffer long-term effects from earning a ‘B’ on a test instead
of an ‘A’), and remain positive throughout the experience. Remember that one of the greatest
benefits of an Academy education is the experience in overcoming these occasional stressors.
Many alumni have come back to thank us for their ability to take these things in stride, while
their college classmates experience high-stakes test anxiety for the first time.
As graduates streamed through during their winter break from various universities, I heard
many stories of aced tests, impressed professors, and smooth sailing through rigorous material. I’ve lost track of the number of times alumni have told me that they’re using things in college that they learned in Mrs. Baker’s 8th grade English class or Mr. McCormack’s Biology
class, for example. And always, this is stated with a mix of amazement at other students’ lack
of preparation and surprise that all that hard work really did have a point.
Another funny thing has become apparent in these wonderful visits from past students. One
young lady, who is attending a school on the East Coast, told me that her classmates were
puzzled that she would plan a visit to her high school. “Why would you do that?” they asked
her. She responded, “Because I spent seven years with them; they’re my family; I love them!”
Thinking back, I never visited my high school after I graduated, and I suspect that most of us
didn’t. But our graduates are a fixture during college-break time. Many hugs, reminiscences,
and excited recitations of new experiences are shared as our kids come home to their Charter
family. It’s a great way to start the Christmas break, and a great reminder of why we’re here
and what makes this place special. Families overcome adversity together, and it makes their
bonds stronger.
Let the tests begin!
Dan Nicklay
4904 N. Duncan Drive, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815 | Phone: 208.676.1667 | Fax: 208.676.8667
ACADEMY NEWS
Page 2 of 8
From the Registrar-Laura Beyer [email protected]
Second Semester Schedules—High School Students
Some high school students may have second semester schedule changes. We will be emailing second semester schedules to parents during finals week. Contact Mrs. Chambers, [email protected] if you
have any questions about your student’s second semester schedule.
Report Cards
First semester report cards will be mailed home on Thursday, January 29th. If you do not receive your child’s
report card, please contact me at 676-1667 or [email protected]
Honor Roll
At the end of each semester, Honor Roll plaques are posted outside of the middle school office.
Sibling Applications Due by March 13th at 4:00 PM
All sibling applications must be received by 4:00 PM on March 13, 2014 to ensure sibling priority in the lottery. Sibling
applications received after that time will be placed at the end of the waiting list. New student registration will be in
April.
Returning Student Registration
Full-time students who are currently enrolled do not have to submit an application. Registration for current students
will be held in April.
Planning to Withdraw?
If you know your child will not be returning next semester, please contact me as soon as possible at 676-1667 or [email protected] to arrange a time to come in and complete a withdrawal form and return books. This will ensure a
quick check out and timely delivery of your child’s records to his/her new school.
REPORT PERIOD
DISTRIBUTE/MAIL
1st Semester Report Cards
Mailed Home, Thursday, 1/29
3rd Quarter Progress Report
Handed Out Study Lab, Tuesday, 3/3
3rd Quarter Report Cards
Mailed Home, Thursday, 4/9
4th Quarter Progress Report
Handed Out Study Lab, Tuesday, 5/12
2nd Semester Report Cards
SENIORS
Mailed Home, Friday, 5/29
2nd Semester Report Cards
6th—11th GRADE
Mailed Home, Tuesday, 6/16
Athletics & Activities
Spring Sports will be starting February 27th!
If you haven’t turned in an athletic packet, and plan on participating in Track & Field or Tennis, please
do so before the season starts.
Coaches Information
Track & Field Head Coach—Jim McPhilomy: [email protected] (208) 691-7223
Assistant Track & Field Coaches—Jacob Bowman, Heidi Nelson, Heather Pierce, Elizabeth Stadley
High School Tennis Coach—Chris Sabatke: [email protected] (208) 676-1667
Middle School Tennis Coach—Lavonne Challinor: [email protected] (407) 506-7047
Page 3 of 8
ACADEMY NEWS
Student of the Month—December & January
Hannah Meyer represented Charter as our December Sunrise
Rotary Student of the Month! Congratulate this remarkable
senior when you get the chance. She has been repeatedly
described by her nominating teacher as “...compassionate,
curious, motivated, diligent and gentle.” Hannah is one of
those young women who have the gift for encouraging those
around her and almost effortlessly building community
among the groups she participates in. It is truly an honor to
have you here at Charter.
January’s Sunrise Rotary Student of the Month was nominated for consistently and repeatedly going ‘above and beyond’ what is required or
needed. Those characteristics are part of just about every single one of
Charter’s students. Jackson Widmyer, our January honoree, goes above
and beyond with going above and beyond! Mrs. Vaughan is the most recent teacher to nominate him, and she mentioned again and again how
willing Jackson is to help those around him, lead when leadership is required, and lend support wherever it is needed. Please congratulate Jackson as you see him around campus!
PTO
Alumni
Nic Johnson, a 2013 Charter Academy graduate, will be attending the 2015 Clinton
Global Initiative University meeting this March in Miami, Florida. Nic will be attending
the conference to meet and exchange ideas with other students, industry professionals,
and world leaders also committed to beginning and supporting social venture projects,
known as Commitments to Action. Nic developed his own Commitment to Action over
the past year and attended weekly workshops to refine his ideas for the CGIU application. Nic’s Commitment is to bring international funding and financing to local entrepreneurs and communities in Haiti. This goal traces back to his time at Charter, where he
worked with Dr. LeBlanc and classmates to study and fundraise for Haiti following the
devastating earthquake five years ago, on January 12, 2010. Since the earthquake, Nic
has made three trips to Haiti to meet with local leaders and residents of several Haitian
communities. Nic also actively participates in U.S.- Haitian events in Washington, D.C.
where he is currently a student at the George Washington University and works as a
Research Assistant at the Focus on Haiti Initiative.
ACADEMY NEWS
Page 4 of 8
COUNSELING CORNER
This month we are covering information on the FAFSA form that seniors and parents need to fill out to be considered for any financial
aid through the federal government. Even if a parent does not feel that they will qualify for any student aid, our recommendation is to fill it out anyway because that information is sent to the colleges requested and aid may also be given out through the
specific schools based on the financial aid sent. Some colleges also require a form called the CSS profile that requires additional financial information for the student and parent to fill out. The CSS profile can be found at CSS Profile through collegeboard.org.
FAFSA: Step-by-Step (information provided by fastweb)
What is it? FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The federal government uses this form to determine
your eligibility for federal financial aid for college, which may include grants, scholarships, and work-study loans.
Why fill it out? The FAFSA is used to apply for financial aid from the federal and state government and from most public and private
colleges. The FAFSA is a prerequisite for the unsubsidized Stafford and Parent PLUS loans, which do not depend on financial need.
EFC stands for Expected Family Contribution. According to the government’s calculation, you and your family should be able to
contribute this amount in the coming academic year to your college costs. The EFC is a harsh assessment of you and your family’s
ability to pay for college. It doesn’t consider the impact of consumer debt on a family’s financial strength.
How does it work? The college you plan to attend will try to meet your demonstrated financial need with a package of different types
of aid from multiple sources, including federal, state, school and private sources.
You can do the following on www.fafsa.ed.gov
Electronically sign your FAFSA
Check the status
Make corrections
Add additional colleges and universities
Fill out an online renewal FAFSA next year
To obtain a PIN, eligible students AND parents should visit www.pin.ed.gov. Be prepared to enter your name, social security number,
date of birth and a challenge question. Allow 3-4 hours to receive the PIN. Keep the PIN confidential as it allows you to electronically
sign federal student aid and loan documents and access your confidential FAFSA information.
Step 1: Assemble forms needed to complete FAFSA
You and your parents need the following to fill out the form:
Social Security Number
Current bank and brokerage account statements
Driver’s license
Current mortgage and investment records (if any)
Alien registration card (if not a U.S. Citizen)
Previous year’s tax return (estimates are OK on tax questions, if you or your parents have not filed yet)
2014 untaxed income records (if any)
2014 W2 and 1099 forms and other records of money earned
Pin
Step 2: Complete the FAFSA
Download, print and complete the FAFSA on the Web worksheet. Complete the FAFSA on the Web at
www.fafsa.ed.gov.
In order to maximize the amount of aid, fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Once finished, print the
FAFSA summary as well as the “Submission Confirmation” page (or write down your confirmation number and date).
Step 3: Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)
The SAR is proof that your FAFSA was received. You should receive your electronic SAR in 1-3 days if you filed electronically (paper filing: 2-3 weeks).
Corrections can be made online using your PIN at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Any questions and/or concerns contact: 1-800-4-FED-AID or visit www.fafsa.ed.gov.
**REMEMBER: Early submission after January 1, maximizes your chances of receiving aid!
REMEMBER…Take Care of SELF!!
Go for brief, brisk walks to get outside for fresh air and sunshine (Vitamin D)!
Be sure to hydrate and drink plenty of water (H2O)!
Keep your stress levels in check by checking in with others that care and support you!
And most of all… remember to BREATHE!
Page 5 of 8
ACADEMY NEWS
COUNSELING CORNER
2014-15 Scholarships
AMOUNT
DEADLINE
CRITERIA
Carroll College—
Service Leadership
Scholarship
NAME
Annual Awards:
1st Place: $10,000
2nd Place: $7,000
3rd Place: $4,000
February 1, 2015
The Service Leadership Scholarship is intended for highachieving students who are committed to local, community,
or global service. This award may be renewed for three
additional years as long as the recipient maintains eligibility.
Please note that this scholarship may be combined with
other scholarships, grants, and financial aid. The application
can be found on the “New Student Financial Aid” page on
the Carroll website and must be submitted to Carroll College
prior to February 1, 2015.
AXA Achievement
Scholarship
35 Scholarships at
$2,500.00
February 1, 2015
Only the first 10,000 applications received will be considered. Student should be well rounded, committed to making
a difference and have demonstrated achievement—at a job,
sport or extracurricular activity. Applicants are asked to
describe in detail an outstanding achievement they have
accomplished in a non-academic activity or project. Apply
online at www.axa-achievement.com.
Governor’s Cup
Scholarship
$3,000
February 15,
2015
www.boardofed.idaho.gov/scholarship/gov_cup.asp for
more information.
George Hansen
Fellowship
$500—$1000
February 15,
2015
Must be a graduating high school senior, must enroll as a
geology, environmental geology, air and space education, or
engineering geology major and enroll at BYU. Must maintain
a 3.3 GPA.
Buick Achievers
Scholarship
Up to $25,000/yr.
February 27,
2015
A dedicated student, leader, volunteer, college bound and
community minded. Please go to www.buickachievers.com
for more information.
Society of Women
Engineers
$2000
February 20,
2015
Women from anywhere in Idaho entering their freshman
year of college. Student must prove that she will be attending a 4 or 5 year engineering school in the year that the
scholarship is received. Essay also needs to be submitted.
Visit www.swiswe.org for more information.
Idaho Association of
Counties Scholarship
$1,000
February 28,
2015
Children of county employees working more that 20 hours
per week and the children and grandchildren of county
elected officials by the Idaho Association of Counties Scholarship Fund on behalf of the members of the IAC. Recipients must attend college, university or vocational/technical
school full time for the 2015-16 academic year. Application
may be downloaded at www.idcounties.org
Inland Northwest
Community
Foundation
Varies
March 1, 2015
Selected on academic record, demonstrated leadership and
participation in school and community activities, honors,
work experience, statement of goals and aspirations, unusual personal or family circumstances. Application can be
downloaded at www.inwcf.org.
Opportunity
Scholarship
Varies
March 1, 2015
Please go to www.boardofed.idaho.gov/scholarship/
opportunity.asp for more information.
North Idaho Fair &
Rodeo Foundation
5 at $1000 each
March 3, 2015
Applicants must be a current Kootenai or Shoshone County
resident with preference given to youth who have actively
assisted in some capacity at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds and/or North Idaho Fair & Rodeo.
IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION will be presenting JOURNEY to COLLEGE- Monday, January 26, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. MT/PT. This
program examines some of the roadblocks to higher education faced by today’s students, and suggests solutions to help students
and parents prepare for their future. Call in help will be available toll free at: 1-844-743-7200.
SAT Test
Dates
PSAT RESULTS—All junior and sophomore students took the PSAT exam in
October of this year and if your student
has not yet received their score, please
have them see Mrs. Chambers in the
high school counseling office. The
primary reason to administer the PSAT
is to help juniors prepare for the SAT
test and for the sophomores to prepare
for the PSAT test they will take again
their junior year. Each report provides
additional resources available at “My
College Quickstart” and can be accessed using the access code which is
provided on the PSAT score report. An
overview of the resource can be viewed
at the following link: http://
www.collegeboard.com/html/
demo/. These can be great resources to
utilize!
SAT TESTING—The Idaho graduation
requirements now require all juniors to
take a college admission test before the
end of their junior year in high
school. As part of this program, the
State of Idaho will pay for all juniors to
take the SAT test during the school day
on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. We will
be registering juniors for the test and
administering the SAT to all juniors at
the Charter Academy on that
date. Juniors attending NIC dual enrollment classes, will need to let their instructors know that this is a required test
day for all juniors in the state.
As part of this program, juniors will have
access to the Official SAT Online
Course to prepare for this exam. A brief
overview of the course can be found
online at http://www.collegeboard.com/
html/satonlinecourse/demo/
index.html. This years’ juniors should
have been given login information for
the course this past spring. We will be
in the junior classes to help go over SAT
test preparation during February and
March.
Registration
Deadline
Late
Registration
IDAHO SCHOLARSHIPS: Go to www.boardofed.idaho.gov. for information concerning the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship. Other
Idaho scholarships to check out include: GEAR UP Idaho Scholarship, Governor’s Cup Scholarship, and the Tschudy Family
Scholarship which ALL have FEBRUARY 15th DEADLINES. These are open to all seniors planning to attend an Idaho college. Go
to the scholarship tab on the left hand side of the website for further information.
March 14, 2015 February 13, 2015
February 27, 2015
May 2, 2015
April 6, 2015
April 17, 2015
JUNIORS- High school juniors are eligible to apply for the 11th annual “Bezos Scholars Program” at the Aspen Institute; the deadline is February 17, 2015. This activity is touted as a “leadership development opportunity.” Select students will attend the Aspen
Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado over the summer. Learn more at: www.bezosFamilyFoundation.org/Scholars.
June 6, 2015
May 8, 2015
May 22, 2015
ACADEMY NEWS
Page 6 of 8
Update on Mrs. Robinson’s 2005 National Geographic’s JASON Project
In 2005, Charter teacher Jean Robinson and a trio of students from across the United States
and Mexico had the fantastic opportunity to work with Dr. Kobie Boykins, a mechanical engineer
at NASA’s Jet propulsion lab in Pasadena, California. He designed the mobility system for
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover, a mobile science lab. Mrs. Robinson’s work that week was part of
a film shown to Charter students and middle school children in 39 countries throughout the
world.
Mrs. Robinson and her team, along with Dr. Boykin’s research team, constructed the actuators,
which are the “joints” on Curiosity’s arms. The actuators are motors that control a mechanical
process allowing the “arms” to bend and scoop up the Martian soil bringing it up to the top of the
rover for analysis in the lab.
Mrs. Robinson was thrilled to learn recently that the actuators built by her and her team were
the prototypes actually used for the Curiosity Mars rover!
Model UN—Mr. Miles
Montana Model United Nations High School Conference
The MMUN Conference was held from November 24-25 at the University of Montana. It was attended by 380 students from 19 Montana
and Idaho schools. Our team of 55 students represented 15 different
countries. This year’s group was the largest in Charter history and
placed 3rd at the conference. We had two country delegations in the
top 5% (Benin
& Saudi Arabia). In addition, we made
up 20% of the
Top 20 Seniors.
At the MUN
Conferences,
students participate in simulations of UN
sessions, debating, negotiating, caucusing, drafting,
and voting on
resolutions that
address world
problems.
Each student participated in one of five committees focusing on security, economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian issues. Students
also heard from faculty guest speakers and University of Montana
international students.
Please congratulate the following students on their highest award:
Honorable Delegates and/or Position Papers (top 20%)
Max McCormick
Emma McCormick
Clark Marchese
Reilly Case
Sydney Morrison
Marie Zaragoza
Mikayla Oswald
Hannah Leeder
Dani Enos
Alexandra Gal
Alexa Maldonado
Jaeger Zollman
Distinguished Delegates and/or Position Papers (top 10%)
Alexander Williams
Nadia Ancker
Hannah Meyer
Hanna Venera
Outstanding Delegates and/or Position Papers (top 1-2%)
Jada Douglass
Jackson Widmeyer
Jag Ashtiani
Renee Michalson
Jack Harris
Conference Top 20 Seniors
Jag Ashtiani
Jackson Widmeyer
Jacks Harris
Emma McCormick
Page 7 of 8
ACADEMY NEWS
Drama/Speech and Debate
Drama
Please join us in March for a revival of the hilarious comedy, The Beverly Hillbillies.
March 11 – 13 at 7:00 pm and March 14 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Adults $7, Students and children $5; tickets available at the door
Christ the King Lutheran Church—1700 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Speech and Debate
Soup & Sweets: meal and performances to support the Speech & Debate Team on March 18 at
6:00 pm in the Middle School MPR. Tickets are $6.00.
Page 8 of 8
ACADEMY NEWS
Announcements
4904 N. Duncan Drive
Coeur D’ Alene, ID 83815
Charter Online Market
Visit our NEW online web store to pay activity fees, purchase patches and other items, make donations and
more! You are also now able to pay with a credit card at both offices. Visit our website
at www.cdacharter.org and find the link to the online store on the right-hand side.
Carpool Need
PHONE:
(208) 676-1667
FAX:
(208) 676-8667
E-MAIL:
[email protected]
Two Hayden families (near Hayden Avenue) in need of after school pickup. Mornings are covered. Need
afternoons. Please contact Aida Zeff 208-771-4139. Thank you!
PTO News
Meeting minutes are now posted to the PTO website. To access them go to www.cdacharter.org, click on
‘Parent Resources’, then ‘PTO’ and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Help Charter PTO/Booster Club by Shopping at Fred Meyer
Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to the CDA Charter
PTO/Booster Club at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.
·Search for ‘CDA Panthers Booster Club’ or use the organization’s ID number 82711.
·Then every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping the Charter PTO/Booster Club earn
a donation!
Tell Target to give 1% of your purchases to the Charter Academy
If you have a Target REDcard, you can designate the Charter Academy as the beneficiary of 1% of your
Target purchases. Last year, Target’s Take Charge of Education program gave $293 to Charter with only 13
sign-ups. If we can reach 200 sign-ups this month, that could mean over $4,000 per year! Don’t miss this
golden opportunity to support our school. Call the number on your card or go to target.com/tcoe. The school
ID is 115609.
We’re on the Web!
See us at:
www.cdacharter.org
Boxtops for Education
We accept “Boxtops for Education” donations. Put the boxtops and soup labels in a clear baggie with your
child’s name and Study Lab/Homeroom teacher’s name. Have your child turn them in to their Study Lab/
Homeroom teacher.
We DO NOT accept batteries or pop tabs.
CDA CHARTER ACADEMY
4904 N. Duncan Drive
Coeur D’ Alene, ID 83815