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“We are crew, not passengers”

An Independent Charter School of TTUSD

Outline

• Background information
• EL Education
• SELS program
• Kindergarten program
• Enrollment specifics
• Those who stay: Middle School information

What is a Charter School?

• Open to the public

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• Tuition-free

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• Participates in state tests

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• Employs credentialed teachers

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• Does not discriminate

Governance

• SELS is an Independent Charter of TTUSD

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• SELS is governed by its own non-profit Board of Directors

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• SELS Director-Principal has school / administrative oversight

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Relationship with TTUSD

• Chartering agency: oversight, reporting, ongoing communication
• Facilities
• Busing
• Calendar (with a few exceptions, Thanksgiving, Ski/Skate week, last day)
• Similar curriculum
• Special Education services
• English Language Development consulting
• Hot lunch program

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Mission

The mission of Sierra Expeditionary Learning School is to:

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• Inspire a diverse group of learners to achieve academic excellence

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• Develop a strong sense of character and community

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• Preserve each child’s natural curiosity and love of learning

What is EL Education?

• National organization of approximately 200 schools
• Originated from Harvard Education & Outward Bound
• Curriculum used in hundreds of schools
• Philosophically based on 10 Design Principles
• 3 Dimensions of Student
• Achievement

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1. The Primacy of Self-Discovery

2. The Having of Wonderful Ideas

3. The Responsibility For Learning

4. Empathy and Caring

5. Success and Failure

6. Collaboration and Competition

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7. Diversity and Inclusion

8. The Natural World

Grass Valley Charter

9. Solitude and Reflection

10. Service and Compassion

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• Project- and Place-based Learning

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• Service Learning

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• Character Ed program

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• Habits of Work (HOWs)

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• Exhibitions of student work

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• Community meetings and events

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SELS Program

Building Community

• We expect high parent involvement
• Connects families to school community
• Helps foster more relationships / understanding

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• Small school, active educational model more effective with parent support
• Parent Teacher Crew (PTC)
• Classrooms
• Driving for fieldwork
• Fund-raising; financial support

Curricular Information

• Common Core State Standards aligned
• 95% Group Phonics- What I Need - WIN time
• Reading groups ; literature circles ; book clubs
• Math curriculum: Eureka / Carnegie
• Spanish / PE instruction
• Enrichment activities
• Fieldwork / Outdoor experiences
• Technology use / instruction
• Learning expeditions

Learning Expeditions

• In-depth, interdisciplinary units : foundations in Science and Social Studies
• Guiding questions
• Case studies
• Learning targets
• Authentic experiences
• Experts
• Culminating products
• Aligned with CCSS and state standards
• Participatory and collaborative learning

Expedition Examples

• 2^nd/3^rd : Fire and Ice in Truckee
• Investigation of Truckee’s history
• Tours of local historical places
• Products: interviewed residents and designed booklet for Senior Center; downtown Truckee historical tours
• K : KinderGarden
• What makes a plant grow? How are plants important?
• Farm visits; plant a garden on campus
• Products: sewing flower print tea towels; compost bins; garden mural from plastic caps

Current School Information

• 212-215 students : 22/class K - 1^st , 24-26/class 2^nd - 8^th
• 25% free/reduced lunch students
• 10% English Learner students
• 18% special education students
• Calendar / daily schedule similar to TTUSD
• Elementary 9:10-3:20
• Middle 7:30-2:20
• Conveniently located at the District Offices
• Portables around two courtyards (Elem & Middle)
• Use of gymnasium, soccer field
• Various play areas

Current School Information

• Staff
• Director/Principal, Asst Principals, and Office Administrator
• 9 Classroom Teachers
• Support and Intervention Teachers for all classrooms
• ELD Coordinator
• Enrichment Instructors: PE, Spanish, Music, Art, Drama
• Counselor, Resource/Aides, Speech, and Psych
• Before-school Coordinator for elementary students
• Instructional Coach

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What We Offer

• Engaging and rigorous academics
• Strong character education program
• Extensive skill building
• Fieldwork / Adventure opportunities and experiences
• Supportive school community
• Excellent teaching staff
• Looping K-1
• Multi-age classrooms 2nd-5th

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What We Expect�“We are Crew, not passengers”

• Buy in - belief in and support for our program
• Values- SIERRA Norms, Social Justice, Declaration of Human Rights
• Attendance – we are a site-based program; no ski programs, travel, etc
• Involvement – active participation by families in school events, volunteering, fieldwork, and fundraising
• Commitment – support for student academics and participation in fieldwork, which is important for ALL students to attend
• Trust – working with us to develop the best possible learning environment for your child

Kindergarten – program

• 9:10 am – 3:20 pm
• Looping teachers – students stay with same teacher for K and 1^st grade
• Lunch/main recess with 1^st graders only ; occasional recesses may mix with 2^nd-5^th graders
• Programming / structures similar to rest of school
• Spanish, PE, other enrichment (dance, art, drama)
• Buddies with older students
• ** Immunizations **

Well Child Visits and Vaccinations

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Presented by Jessica Lichtig-Groom, RN

Presentado por Jessica Lichtig-Groom, RN

Vacunas y Chequeos de bienestar para los niños

• Los niños/as deben tener un Chequeo General Medico una vez al año
• en esta cita se pueden administrar las vacunas.
• Si su niño/a ya ha tenido su Chequeo General del año, se puede hacer una cita específicamente para vacunas.
• Haga una cita para un Chequeo General a los 4 años (vacunas)
• Haga una cita para un Chequeo General a los 5 años (vacunas, muestra de orina y de hemoglobina para la forma CDPH)
• Haga una cita solamente para vacunas (Martes en las tardes, Miércoles, Viernes y Sábados en las mañanas)

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How to get your child Vaccinated for School.

• Children need to be seen yearly for a Well Child Check.
• Vaccinations can be given at that visit.
• Vaccine only appointments can be scheduled if your child has already had a Well Child Check for the year.
• Schedule a 4 year old Well Child Check (Vaccines)
• Schedule a 5 year old Well Child Check (Vaccines, Urine and HGB for CDPH Form)
• Schedule a vaccine only appointment (Tuesday afternoons, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday mornings)

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Como Vacunar a su hijo para la escuela.

Call 530-587-3523 to schedule

Llame a 530-587-3523 para hacer cita

How do I know which vaccines my child needs?

Como se que vacunas necesita mi niño/a?

• Go to Mychart.tfhd.com
• Login with parent account for children under 12

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• Ingrese a Mychart.tfhd.com
• Para niños menores de 12 anos inicie sesión con la cuenta del padre/madre

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Enrollment Specifics

• Enrolled students automatically move on
• Siblings of enrolled students have priority at next school year lottery
• When there is turnover, the first name on waiting list is contacted via email
• Applications must be received by NOON, March 25
• Completed applications received after NOON, �March 25 automatically placed at end of waiting list
• You will be emailed a family number
• Lottery results posted on website March 27 by 8 am

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Enrollment Specifics

• Two lotteries: General and Free/Reduced Lunch eligible
• Preference levels in each lottery: staff, sibling, in-district, out-of-district
• Automatic openings in Kindergarten

2025/26 : 11 general and 6 free/reduced

• 2^nd grade openings: 0 general & 1 free/reduced

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• Transition openings: 0 (dependent on turnover)

Free/Reduced Lunch Lottery

• Intent:
• To ensure SELS has a school population reflecting the district’s diversity
• To provide opportunity to families in need
• Eligibility:
• Must fill out verification form with application
• All income and savings must be factored in
• We may request tax records to confirm eligibility
• Must qualify for National School Lunch Program through TTUSD prior to start of school

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HOUSEHOLD SIZE / YEARLY INCOME

TAMAÑO DE LA FAMILIA / INGRESO ANUAL

2 $37,814

3 $47,767

4 $57,720

5 $67,673

6 $77,626

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FOR EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER ADD $9,953

Free/Reduced Lunch Lottery

For more information visit our website at: www.truckeecharterschool.org

Middle School Goals

• Apply skills and knowledge
• Problem-solving, critical thinking, relevancy
• Develop confidence and strong personal identity
• Connect students with various communities

Middle School – Curriculum

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• Expedition format for social studies / science / ELA
• Multiple case studies and extensive fieldwork�In-class activities, service, and adventure education�Engaging, collaborative, hands-on learning
• *Middle school three-year character expedition:
• Guiding middle school question: Who am I? �6^th – Who am I personally?�7^th – Who am I as member of my community? �8^th – Who am I as global citizen?
• Specific courses: Spanish 1, Integrated Math 1
• Carnegie Math curriculum (same as TTUSD)

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Expedition Examples

• 8^th : Earth Shakers, Ground Breakers
• Guiding Question: How do earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion shape our landforms?
• 4-day trip to Lassen NP; expert presentations
• Products: Documentary film; iBook; classroom museum; bilingual children’s informational book
• 7^th : Cartographers and Commanders
• Guiding Question: How have historical navigation and exploration shaped the modern world?
• Wilderness GPS navigation field work and �SF Bay sailing excursions
• Products: Board games highlighting specific explorers, Age of Exploration escape room

Middle School Offerings

• Busing, hot lunch program
• Social events
• Enrichment
• Art
• Music
• Spanish
• Drama/Theater
• PE / Sports at ACMS
• Leadership Opportunities
• Adventure education

For more information visit our website at: www.truckeecharterschool.org