The Weekly Buzz
Yosemite Valley and Monarch River Announcements - 2.1.2021
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Parent Input Survey for Educational Funds
Dear Parents,
As we start to plan for the 2021-22 school year, we would like to invite you to give your input on how student's educational funds are allocated. We must abide by all state guidelines and legislation, but we also would like to make adjustments within those limits that will best meet our students academic needs.
Dr. Laurie Goodman and Steph Johnson
Learning Period 5 Meetings - All Virtual
SCHOOL CLUBS
Spring Club Rush
The waiting is OVER! It is time to sign up for our spring clubs in the link below. Please carefully choose one or two clubs that light up your student. This session we will limit student sign ups to be certain there is room for everyone. Be sure to look at the grade levels the club is offered to before signing up.
TEACHER EMAILS
PARENT RESOURCES
Parent Advocacy Team Meeting
Parent Advocacy Team Meeting
At our schools, we value the time, opinions, and feedback of parents. Each month our Director of Community Engagement, Michelene Fitzgerald, hosts time for parents or guardians to join her for discussion. You can email her ahead of time with questions or just pop in to ask.
February 12th at noon
Join our Facebook Page!
We also have built-in sister groups for Administrative, HST, and Family Support, and Vendor Support. Please feel free to join, post your success, and ask your questions HERE.
Ordering Tips
As you are planning your second semester, adjusting goals, and considering how to use your funds, we wanted to share ordering tips with you. These tips will help answer “What is educational quality and quantity?”
LENDING LIBRARY
Library Survey
We want to hear from you!
to let us know where you would like to see the Mobile Lending Library.
Lending Library times and park days
January and February Lending Library Park Days:
Merced: Thursday, January 28th, Monday, February 8th, and Thursday, February 25th 10:00 am-11:00 am
Monterey: Monday, February 1st and Thursday, February 18th 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Visalia: Tuesday February 2nd 10:00am-11:00am
CLOSED for Presidents Day: February 12th and 15th
Regular Library Pick-Up & Drop-Off Hours:
Tuesday-Friday
8:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm
Library and Item Pickup and Returns
Not enough time with your library items? Renew them!
Here are steps to renew your library items...
- Go on the Lending Library website
- Click on the circle icon on the top right corner
- Click my account
- Find your library orders and the items you want to renew
- Click the renew button and you have them for another 3 months!
*Library items can only be renewed once and they will only become available to renew 1 week before they are due*
If you have an online order to pick up, please walk through the main doors and knock on the Lending Library front door and someone will assist you.
*Library items do not need any paperwork to be returned. Items you have ordered through our Enrichment ordering system will need a form*
When returning enrichment materials (purchases made with your student's state educational funds), please have a Returns Identification Form filled out for each student. We also have printed copies on the return table at our location*
All items purchased through the school with state education funds are considered the property of the school. Non-consumables need to be returned to the school library when the student withdraws from the school. They may be returned earlier if the items are no longer needed for student learning. Your HST can give you a list of your enrichment materials if you would like one. Please use the form below:
Our address is 3610 E. Ashlan Ave. Fresno, CA.,93726
(Red Brick Building located on the SW corner of Ashlan & Millbrook)
Lending Library Appointments
The Lending Library is open for appointments!
Use this link to schedule your appointment:
Appointments are first come first serve
Please read the rules for library appointments. It is very important that the rules are followed during your time in the library to help protect our staff and other families. If you do not feel like you can abide by the rules during your time in the library, online ordering is still available to all families.
Rules while using the Lending Library:
- One family per appointment.
- Masks must be worn at all times.
- You will be temperature checked and asked to fill out a questionnaire upon entry.
- You will have 35 minutes to browse the Lending Library. The last 10 minutes of your appointment will be for finalizing decisions and checking out items.
- Parental supervision is required at all times.
- Social distancing is required with the office staff.
Please be sure to bring a bag to carry all your library items after checking out!
Library contacts
If you are having any issues with ordering on the LL website please contact a
Lending Library Specialist!
Kellie : (559) 316-0796
Jill: (559) 316-0948
Oliva: 559-316-0955
MIDDLE SCHOOL
We would like to know if you and your middle school student would be interested in attending a Middle School Virtual Academy in the fall of 2021-2022. This Virtual Academy would include two live sessions each week as well as office hours to answer questions. They would offer math, English, history and/or science.
Whether or not you would be interested in such a program, could you please fill out this survey for our team?
HIGH SCHOOL
CTE - Career Technical Education
What is CTE (Career & Technical Education)? In case you missed it, here’s a video that gives a great overview.
Last week we highlighted one of our vendors, eDynamic. This week check out another one of our vendors that offers some great CTE elective options!
California YMCA Youth & Government is excited to announce that registration for Spring Session for the 73rd Model Legislature & Court program is now open! This program offers students throughout the state of California the opportunity to discuss new ideas, meet new friends and provide a platform for their voice to be heard.
During this 5-week program, high school students will become “delegates” and will have the opportunity to participate in one of three program areas. They may become the founder of a startup where they will work in small groups and compete in a fast-paced environment to secure investors. Another option is to join our Education Program, where delegates will first learn about how K-12 public schools operate in California and then work to address inequalities to make the California Dream attainable for all - regardless of zip code. Legal-minded delegates will have the opportunity to join the California Supreme Court,* where they'll spar over constitutional issues facing the state. All three program areas will have exciting leadership opportunities that will be open to every delegate, regardless of past experience within the program. Finally, the five-week program will end with the electrifying election of our 74th Youth Governor and Youth Chief Justice!
Outside of their program area delegates will meet weekly with their delegations to learn new skills and debate important local issues, connect with their peers at statewide conventions, and hear from exciting guest speakers.
Please see the Spring Session program guide, detailing the upcoming program session, dates and registration fees.
Students can also register and find out more information about our program, by visiting our website.
Scholarships are available! We were awarded scholarship funding during this pandemic year to assist in lowering the pricing for our sessions. If you have students that are interested but cannot afford the registration fee, we understand and can provide assistance.High School Virtual Academies
HSVA Update Policies
Spring Semester
All courses have shown up in the student's Schoology and Edgenuity dashboard on January 11th.
Spring Semester courses began on January 13th
Counseling Corner
College Fairs
CollegeBoard is hosting its 1st virtual college fair:
Sign-up up here!Concurrent Enrollment
The Fall college semester has ended at most community colleges. If your child took a college class, please remember to request an official transcript to be sent to our Records department at Records@thinksuite.org or mailed to
Attn: Records – CC Transcripts
Yosemite Valley/Monarch River
1151 W. 5th Street
Azusa, CA 91702
Spring semester college classes are starting and spaces are limited. Forms can still be turned in for approval to Carmen Marroquin. See our Central Guide to Concurrent Enrollment Programs for links to our regional colleges. If a student has already registered for a Spring class, please have them send proof of enrollment to Carmen Marroquin. It must clearly show the student’s name, college name, class name, and term. College classes will be added to the student’s schedule within the first 2 weeks of the Spring semester once proof of enrollment is received.
Testing
NEW Tuesday, January 26, 2021 (Only added for the 2020–2021 school year)
Yosemite Valley/Monarch River Academy does not offer PSAT testing. It is up to the student to find a local school that would allow them to test with their students. Please call your local public or private high school to ask if they would allow a charter school student to test with their school.
Many schools that would normally open their campus for PSAT/NMSQT administration to students other than their own are not doing that at this time with the COVID situation. The College Board national PSAT/NMSAT team is currently working to formulate suggestions for online and home-schooled students. They will get this information out when it becomes available in the near future.
SAT/ACT
Important Notice
Due to COVID, many testing sites are not currently available. The UC and CSU have noted they have suspended the SAT/ACT testing requirement for the class of 2021. Keep checking SAT/ACT websites for updates and availability; but know that for UC, CSU, and many other campuses, SAT/ACT is not a requirement this year.
College Applications
Seniors - College Applications
Deadlines have been extended for some CSUs!
CSU Fresno State and all other California State Universities:
Application help: High School Guidance - First-Time First-Year Students | CSU
Due Date Extended past December 15th!
Go to Cal State Apply to submit your application.
Chico – January 15, 2021
All First-time Freshman and non-impacted transfer programs
Dominguez Hills - January 15, 2021
East Bay - March 2, 2021
Humboldt – February 28, 2021
Los Angeles – January 19, 2021
Except for Nursing for transfer students
Maritime – January 15, 2021
Monterey Bay - January 15, 2021
Pomona –
Hospitality Management for freshman and transfers until March 1st and
Early Childhood Studies for transfers only until January 31st
Sacramento – January 8, 2021
San Bernardino - February 1, 2021
San Francisco - non-impacted programs until January 31, 2021
San Jose – January 8, 2021
San Marcos – January 31, 2021
Sonoma – January 15, 2021
Stanislaus – February 1, 2021
Clovis Community College and all other California Community Colleges:
Application help: Applying for Admission|CA Community College
Fresno City College New Student Help
Reedley City College New Student Help
Clovis Community Application Instructions, Clovis Community College: Welcome Center, Playlist
Merced Community College New Student Help
Monterey Peninsula College New Student Help
Hartnell College New Student Help
Gavilan College New Student Help
Colleges using the Common Application: An application guide for first-time students
First-Generation Students: Crack the Code: A Guide for First Gens
CSU Fresno State and all other California State Universities:
Application help: High School Guidance - First-Time First-Year Students | CSU
Due Date: October 1 - November 30
UC Merced and all other University of California campuses:
Application help: Applying as a freshman | UC Admissions
Due Date: November 1 - 30th
Clovis Community College and all other California Community Colleges:
Application help: Applying for Admission|CA Community College
Fresno City College New Student Help
Reedley City College New Student Help
Clovis Community Application Instructions, Clovis Community College: Welcome Center, Playlist
Merced Community College New Student Help
- Monterey Peninsula College New Student Help
- Hartnell College New Student Help
- Gavilan College New Student Help
Due Date: The priority application period for the Fall 2021 semester: October 1, 2020-December 4, 2020.
Financial Aid
Seniors-Financial Aid
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2021-2020 school year became available October 1st. Schools use it to determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid, including grants and scholarships. Don’t wait! Apply early!
The California Student Aid Commission is hosting Cash4College Workshops. They are all virtual! Find and register for one here.
College Board Scholarships-The College Board created a program that guides you through the college application process, reward your effort and initiative, and doesn't require an essay, application, or minimum GPA! Complete key steps along your path to college for a chance to earn scholarships. Learn more here!
Scholarship Spotlight
Bank of America Student Leaders- The Student Leaders program connects more than 300 community-minded high school juniors and seniors to employment, skills development and service through paid summer internships with local nonprofits such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity and participate in a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C. Go here for eligibility requirements and here to apply. Deadline 1/29/2021
1/25/2020
Must be a Junior or Senior and submit an essay “Why is a college education important to me”?
1/31/2021
California Schools Employees Association (CSEA)
Dependents of members of Union Plus.
1/31/21
Graduating high school seniors and currently enrolled college students who are interested in pursuing a career as a contractor.
1/31/21
Students pursuing a career as a contractor must be U.S Citizen, attend 2,4 or Vocational school
1/31/2021
Prestige Student Scholarship Program Scholarship
Must have been photographed by Prestige Portraits (Lifetouch) studios, additional essay
See more scholarships at our Central Schools Scholarship Bulletin.
Artwork Highlight
Central Charter Schools
Email: centralsupport@yosemiteschools.org
Website: https://yosemitevalleycharter.org/
Location: 3610 East Ashlan Avenue, Fresno, CA, USA
Phone: 559-316-0192
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentralCACharters/