CURRICULUM NEWS
Happy New Year! Before we know it, spring will be arriving. With spring flowers comes curriculum planning for next year! Please start thinking about your curriculum orders for next year as fall can be a very busy time for both you and publishers. Talk with your ES about available curriculum at the Resource Center to help with your budgeting, or stop by and browse the shelves. Check out our Recommended Curriculum Page (most of the curriculum on these pages will be available at the center in the fall). Go to our website Homepage and navigate to Departments>>Curriculum>>Recommended Curriculum and select your grade level.
Science Curriculum: We have some exciting news! The state has finally completed the adoption process for the new California Next Generation Science Curriculum. The adopted curriculum aligns to the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) framework. This framework puts strong emphasis on three main instructional shifts: cross cutting concepts, core ideas, and practices. It is important that any curriculum used includes strength in these instructional areas. Using state adopted curriculum takes the "guess work" away and allows you to focus your instruction since you can rest assured the curriculum has been evaluated through a rigorous review process. To view the state adopted programs, visit:
Remember, California is only a K-8 adoption state. High School materials are vetted through the UC Approval Process, to which we will be submitting early next year.
We have been busy reviewing several of the programs to determine which programs we will use for our Science classes and which programs we will post on our Recommended Curriculum Page. Program samples will be available on display at the Resource Centers for staff and parents to review as we get them.
Spotlight Vendor of the Week
We are excited to begin a new opportunity for our vendors. Each week, we would like to "spotlight" a vendor at our Resource Centers. This is an opportunity for you to check out the vendor's product or service, answer questions and view samples.
Starting in our 2nd semester, we have invited vendors to sign up to visit our Modesto and Union City locations. We will "spotlight" one vendor each week (as vendors are available) at a "Spotlight Vendor" table. Watch for Parentsquare Listserves as we advertise the featured vendor of the week and the time they will be there for you to come visit (times may vary).
Please stop by and say "hello" to our Featured Vendors!
Spotlight on Curriculum
Struggling with what types of books your student should read? Struggling to know what books are age appropriate? Be sure to check out our 101 Great Books for College Bound Students:
And our recommended book list for our younger students in grades 6-8:
Need more? No problem! The state of California has put together a searchable data base for recommended reading for students starting in Pre-kindergarten through grade Twelve. It features a searchable database of books for children and teens which helps students, teachers, and families find books that entertain, inform, and explore new ideas and experiences.
If you have any questions regarding curriculum, please feel free to contact me via phone or e-mail at any time. You can reach me at [email protected] or call me at 209-874-1119.
ASSESSMENT NEWS
We are excited to announce our First Annual "GRASP THE CAASPP" contest. We want to encourage all of our 3-8th and 11th grade students to actively participate. Students can win prizes, and most importantly, can increase their state assessment scores, all while having fun!
Students attend live "gaming" sessions online via Moodle where they will participate in games to practice their grade level skills. Games include Kahoot!, Trivia, Jeopardy and more. Students will have fun practicing for the state assessment and will earn raffle tickets to try to earn prizes. For more information and to sign up, visit our GRASP THE CAASPP website.
Watch for Listserves with more information, and check back on the website for your grade level session dates.
WASHINGTON DC TRIP
Our families at Connecting Waters Charter Schools have caught the travel bug once again! We're headed to Washington D.C.! I'll be hosting a mandatory online informational meeting on Wednesday, January 23 at 6:00 p.m. PST for all families in all three of our schools who may be interested in traveling as representatives of our school during Spring Break of 2020. Please RSVP using the link below before the day of our meeting.
Please contact Jamie Ulloa at [email protected] or (209) 874-1119, ext. 296 for additional information.
RSVP
Zoom Log in Meeting info can be found below:
Join Zoom Meeting
One tap mobile
+17207072699, 414169358# US
Meeting ID: 414 169 358
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Guidance Department Staff
We are available in person by phone or online; to schedule an appointment call 209-874-1119 or email [email protected]
High School Students! Exciting news!
Connecting Waters Charter Schools is offering a COLLEGE CLASS this Spring!
Earn college credit at Connecting Waters!
You can now get started on earning College Credits and meet the Education and Career Planning requirement for Graduation from CWCS!
Our very own Mrs. Melissa Cripe is teaching Guidance 18 (section 3738) at Columbia College. This class is online and is not a specific time. You simply log in to the class each week and do the assignments. The class is worth 3 college units and 10 high school credits. It's also FREE to CWCS High School Students.
The class starts January 28 and ends May 4, but you need to start registration NOW.
- Start here. Columbia College Application
- click Apply.
- After applying, email, Mrs. Cripe, [email protected] and she will help you get registered for the class.
Important Information for Seniors-Class of 2019
Important Dates to remember!
Students…Financial Aid and Scholarships:
- FAFSA (FAFSA Application) application period is January 1 through March 2. Remember, Financial Aid is available for community college and some vocational schools as well as universities!
- Financial Aid Workshop Online - was in November, email Guidance for the recording: [email protected]
- Check our scholarship page at:
- Go to www.cwcharter.org , then "Student then "College and Career," then "Guidance Counseling," then "Scholarship Information"
Seniors…did you miss the Senior Class Meeting in August?
Did you miss the Senior Class Meeting hosted by the Guidance Department?
Email Guidance for the Recording: [email protected]
11th grade students…UC Eligibility in the Local Context Program
Connecting Waters participates in University of California's Eligibility in the Local Context program for 11th grade students. To find out if your student will qualify for participation, see UC ELC Information; students with an academically rigorous course load will be considered; criteria for consideration include: a-g course pattern completion (11 a-g courses completed by end of Junior year), a combination of Community College and a-g courses, 11th graders who have general courses but have completed at least geometry will be considered, students with above average SAT and/or ACT scores will be considered (latest exam date for Juniors to be considered is SAT-May, ACT-April and CW students must use CW School Code 053706 when registering, CWEB students must use the CWEB School Code 050352 when registering ). For CWEB students, our plan is to register CWEB for this program after we become WASC accredited and have a full list of UC approved a-g courses. The goal is to begin with the CWEB Class of 2020.
Guidance Department Educational Series
High School Orientation Meeting
February 28 at 1:00 p.m. Online (date/time may be subject to change)
Attention 7th and 8th graders!!!! A very important meeting to discuss the importance of high school and the courses you should take. Do you want to attend college? A trade school? How about Junior College? Now's the time to plan for your future!! A must attend event! Don't miss out! Online Meeting
College and Career Resources
Looking for resources? Visit the Guidance website at www.cwcharter.org, then High School, then High School Guidance. You will find the High School Catalog, Career Resources, Scholarship and Grant information, Grad Requirements information, and more!!!!
Looking for the right career or college? Try these websites: California Colleges , CA Career Zone; Federal Student Aid ; College Board Big Future
Free Online Virtual College Fairs at College Week Live
How can a student earn a 4.25 GPA? Here's an explanation of our "weighted GPA" policy
Students who take UC Approved Advanced Placement (AP) courses or UC transferable courses (that meet a-g requirements) at Community College courses will earn "Honors" credit on their GPA. Grades earned in AP courses or UC approved Community College courses will earn 5.00 GPA points for an A, 4.00 GPA points for a B, and a 3.00 GPA points for a C (D's and F's do not qualify for "Honors" credit). Connecting Waters offers AP English Language/Composition and AP English Literature/Composition. UC approved online vendors and AP courses can be found at cwcharter.org, then Departments, then Guidance. Questions? Contact Guidance at [email protected]
2018-19 Spring SAT and ACT - College Entrance Exam Dates
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Test
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Test Date
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Registration Deadline
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Late Registration Deadline
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ACT (with optional writing)
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Feb. 9
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Jan. 11
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Jan. 18
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SAT or SAT with Essay (No SAT Subjects)
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March 9
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Feb 8
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Feb 27
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ACT (with optional writing)
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April 13
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March 8
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March 25
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SAT or SAT with Essay and Subject Tests
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May 4
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April 5
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April 24
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SAT or SAT with Essay and Subject Tests
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June 1
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May 3
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May 22
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ACT (with optional writing)
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June 8
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May 3
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May 20
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ACT (with optional writing)
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July 13
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June 14
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June 24
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ACT Fees - Basic Registration Fee $46 (with optional writing $62
SAT Fees - SAT with writing $64.50, SAT $47.50; SAT Subject Tests are $26 for basic registration plus $22 per subject (Language tests with listening are $26)
NOTE: test dates and fees subject to change
To Register: SAT - SAT Registration ACT - ACT Registration
IMPORTANT: Make sure to list your school!
Connecting Waters
School Code: 053706
Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay
School Code: 050352
Connecting Waters Charter - Central Valley
School Code: 053963
Note: test results are posted onto high school transcripts
Resources for Studying and Test Prep:
ACT Test prep
Official SAT Practice