$110,334

 

CBEE Honor Roll

Escondido Charter High School has once again been selected by California Business for Education Excellence (CBEE) as one of 1,614 public schools in California to receive the title of 2011 Honor Roll school. This is the fourth time for Escondido Charter High School has been on the CBEE Honor Roll.

Schools receiving this distinction from the California business community have demonstrated consistent high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time and reduction in achievement gaps among student populations. For High Schools, the Honor Roll recognition also includes measures of college readiness.

The Honor Roll is the premier school recognition program that uses only academic achievement data showing improved academic growth over time and a closing of the achievement gap.

“These schools are the bright spots of excellence in efforts to raise student academic achievement and close persistent achievement gaps,” said Jim Lanich, president of CBEE. “By highlighting them, recognizing their achievement and giving them a voice we hope other schools can learn from them and replicate their proven practices throughout the state.”

The Honor Roll list grew from 1,315 schools in 2010 to the current 1,614 for 2011. A full list of the Honor Roll schools can be found at: www.cbeefoundation.org/honor_roll.html.

Students Begin Star Testing

On Monday, April 30, Traditional Classroom Program students in grades 9 through 11 began their first day of Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) testing.

The California STAR Test (CST) will be administered from April 30 to May 3.

“The STAR is a series of exams that measure student learning in core academic subjects like math, science, English, and history,” TCP Director Mr. Roner said. “The exams are important not only because they measure student achievement, but also because the State of California uses the assessment results to measure each school's academic performance.”

Each student is encouraged to focus, work hard and do their best as the STAR tests are an important component of Escondido Charter High School’s accountability ranking.

Both scores from the CST and the California High School Exit Exam generate the school’s Academic Performance Index, or API.

According to the California Department of Education, the API scale ranges from a low of 200 to a high of 1,000. A school’s score or placement on the API is an indicator of the school’s performance level. The statewide API performance target for all schools is 800. A school’s growth is measured by how well the school is moving toward or past that goal.

Last year, the Traditional Classroom Program had an 911 API.

“Although last year’s API placed the Traditional Classroom Program among the top high schools in California, we hope to do even better this year,” Mr. Roner said.

Also, students who perform well on the CST may earn recognition as a Golden State Scholar.

On Monday, students completed the English-Language Arts test. Tuesday, they will complete the math test. Wednesday and Thursday students will be tested in science and social science, respectively.

Arts Festival Was Big Success

About 300 parents, students, and community members attended the Escondido Charter High School Arts Festival on March 29. The festival featured various categories of student art including canvas art, digital illustration, and live musical performances.

The event spanned three different locations on campus: the American Spirit Theater where the musical and theatrical performances took place; the Student Union where the Digital Illustration was showcased, and the library where canvas art was displayed.

A total of six different art categories were represented: oil, colored art pieces, portraits, graphic still life, photography, and graphic design. Other pieces were from the areas of photography and digital illustration.

Students also tried their hand at live performances featuring, individual musical performances, choir, and a preview of the independent program’s theatrical production.

“It was beyond my expectations,” Mrs. Pat Leming, the art teacher of both the Traditional Classroom Program and Independent Learning Program said. “The art show really got the parents to see what our students were capable of, and the students who are planning to pursue art got the experience of their first art show.”

Outdoor Photographer, Nathan Weir

Nathan Weir, a junior at Escondido Charter High School, is featured in this month's issue of Teen Photo Magazine. You can read the full article on Teen Photo.

ECHS Teacher Appreciation Lunch

May 7 through May 11 is Teacher Appreciation Week. In order to honor the hard work and dedication of ECHS faculty and staff, the Parent Volunteer Organization plans to host a lunch on Monday, May 7. Please show your support by making a financial donation. Please click here for more details about the event. Thanks for your support!

 

 

Civil Air Patrol Highlighted in Union Tribune Article

The Escondido Civil Air Patrol was highlighted in a recent article in the San Diego Union Tribune. The Civil Air Patrol has a color guard that presents the nation's flag at the beginning of each major school event and plays other important ceremonial roles at ECHS. In addition, the Civil Air Patrol provides a wonderful opportunity for ECHS students to learn more about the Air Force. TCP students interested in participating the Civil Air Patrol should e-mail Mrs. Rea at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Arts Festival--Thursday, March 29

Escondido Charter High School will host an art festival on Thursday, March 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $2 for students and $5 for adults. (All money raised will go to support ECHS art and music programs.)

The purpose of the ECHS Arts Festival is to showcase student achievement in the arts and to emphasize the importance of art and music in education. This year's event will include over fifty displays of student canvas art, over thirty displays of student photography, a highlight of the 2011-2012 year book, and examples of student 3-D animation and digital illustration. In addition, this year's art festival will also include the ECHS choir, a short play by the ILP Theater Arts Program, and individual student music performances.

In order to better highlight our students' work at this year's Arts Festival, the faculty plans to award ribbons for eight different categories of canvas art and photography. The selection committee will review student work on Wednesday, March 28, and select winners for each category. Awards will be displayed the night of the Arts Festival.

The Arts Festival will also feature a coffee bar where parents can hangout and catch up with friends while enjoying coffee, finger foods, and live music.

Please show your support by attending the Arts Festival. Due to limited space in the theater, parents, students, and their families are encouraged to arrive early. Thanks for your support!

Don't forget to follow the event on Facebook!

Thank you!

Thank you for your financial and ‘in-kind’ contributions as we strive to reach 100% of our $400,000 fund-raising goal for this school year.

In order to give special thanks and well-deserved recognition to our donors, we have posted a list of our donors along with a ‘Donations Thermometer’ on our ‘The American Heritage Education Foundation’(AMHEF) website. We plan to update the ‘Donor List’ at the end of each month.

Again – THANK YOU for your generous support during these challenging budgetary times. We are pleased to partner with you as we provide an EXCELLENT education for our students.

(Click here to see the ‘Donor List’.)

Marine Science Students Featured in Blog

Students who compete in an annual marine science-based competition were featured in the San Diego Union Tribune’s science blog, “Science Minded.”

The blog is authored by doctoral student at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Aaron Hartmann. Hartmann has worked with Charter’s NOSB team as an assistant coach and mentor.

Head coach, TCP Marine Science Teacher, Mrs. Courtney Goode, teamed with Hartmann since the team’s inception in 2010.

“The students [at Charter] are more energetic and more assertive about having fun with the competition than other schools I have worked with,” Hartmann said.

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) team is comprised of 10 students who alternate during the academic competition held at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. They placed third in at their regional competition on Saturday, March 3.

During the competition, teams of 4-5 students tested their knowledge of marine science through quick-answer buzzer questions and complex team challenge questions. Charter’s team -- aka ‘The Grunting Garibaldi’ -- competed against 10 other schools.

“I was so proud of them,” Mrs. Goode said. “Our strategy [was] to practice hard all year and learn to laugh at ourselves if things don't go our way.”

The Garibaldi have won Best Team Spirit for the past two years.

“Other schools can make the competition too intense and they can get upset. Our students really lighten up the mood,” Hartmann said.

Spotted on campus with bright orange, hooded sweatshirts, The Grunting Garibaldi make quite an impression on campus..

“I have so much fun in NOSB. Everyone there loves to learn about the ocean and are passionate about it,” Senior Teghan Shore said. “Mrs. Goode is awesome and has given each of us a passion for the ocean.”

GOLF TOURNAMENT THANKS

The ECHS Parent Volunteer Organization would like to thank everyone who particpated in the 10th Annual American Heritage Education Foundation Golf Tournament. Your support helps keep our programs running smoothly.

We look forward to seeing you again next year.

TCP Sophomores Complete California Exit Exam

Today, March 12, Traditional Classroom Program students in grade 10 began their first day of testing for the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).

The CAHSEE will be administered March 12 and 13. Each student is encouraged to focus, work hard and do their best as the CAHSEE is an important component for high school graduation.

“Because students must pass the CAHSEE in order to graduate from high school, the test is very important for sophomores.” TCP Director Shawn Roner said.

In California, all high school students must pass the CAHSEE to earn a high school diploma. California created the test to improve student achievement in high schools.

The passing score for the mathematics part of the CAHSEE is approximately 55 percent of items correct, or a score of 350. The passing score for the English-Language Arts (ELA) part of the CAHSEE is approximately 60 percent of items correct, or a score of 350.

The test helps to ensure that students graduate from high school with grade-level skills in reading, writing, and math.

Last year, 99% of all TCP students passed the math section, and 100% passed the English portion.

Students were tested on writing and reading skills on Tuesday. Students will complete the math section on Wednesday.

Mock Trial Team Places 8th In San Diego County

Escondido Charter High School’s first-ever mock trial team participated in a countywide competition last month.

The team, comprised of nine students (Gabe Bennett, Amanda Sisco, Briana Melvin, Brittany Tugwell, Holly Conger, Monica Wisley, Michael Chung, Alexandra Rothman, and Joseph Garcia) placed eighth out of 19 schools in San Diego County. The team was coached by TCP history and government teacher, Mr. Greg Smith.

“I was very happy with our team’s performance.  None of us had any experience doing mock trial before, so I was pleasantly surprised by our showing,” Mr. Smith said. “ We will be well-prepared to do even better next year.”

The 2012 San Diego County Mock Trial Competition is organized by the San Diego County Bar Association with materials created by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. According to the foundation, the program is designed “to help students acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society.”

Each year, the foundation creates a criminal case and supplies resources for mock trial competitors. Each team is to prepare as both the prosecution and defense, providing witnesses, attorneys, clerks and bailiffs.

The teams are then advised and coached by volunteer teachers, and working attorneys. ECHS’s team was coached by research attorney, Ms. Mejkan Tague, from the Vista Courthouse, and Mr. Keith Rutman, a criminal defense attorney.

Mr. Rutman helped students question witnesses, and Ms. Tague organized a field trip to a courthouse where students were able to see attorneys in action, Mr. Smith said.

“We worked with two great lawyer-coaches,” Mr. Smith said. “We couldn’t have done as well without them.”

ECHS students went to task starting in late October to prepare both defense and prosecution cases for a murder trial: The People vs. Ryan Buschell.

The competition took place in the San Diego County Courthouse in downtown San Diego.  Currently active judges were on the bench in the trials, and practicing lawyers evaluated and scored the team’s performance from the jury box.

The defense team faced-off against the San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts on Feb. 7 and won a not-guilty verdict.  The prosecution team competed against Our Lady of Peace on Feb. 9 and won a guilty verdict.

With an undefeated record, the defense team faced-off against The Bishop’s School on Feb. 11, and lost. The Bishop’s School went on to win the championship, undefeated.

“This was a great opportunity for students to do some authentic learning.  Some of the students may want to be lawyers in the future, and this gave them a taste of what that life would be like,” Mr. Smith said. “I’m very proud of what they did, and I hope more students are interested in participating next year.”

Traditional Classroom Program Re-Enrollment

The re-enrollment process for the Traditional Classroom Program has begun. March is the time to enroll returning 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students for the 2012-2013 school year.

A re-enrollment packet was mailed home on February 27. Parents must complete the registration packet and return it to the ECHS main office no later than Friday, March 9.  It is important that the registration forms are returned as soon as possible to ensure student enrollment and scheduling can be finalized in a timely manner.       

Mrs. McCrory is working with students during March to build individual schedules for the 2012-2013 school year. A copy of the course selection form will be mailed home in April for parent review. If parents have questions or concerns regarding scheduling in the meantime, please e-mail Mrs. McCrory at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Please keep in mind submission of a completed re-enrollment packet is a commitment to enroll in the Traditional Classroom Program for the 2012-2013 school year. If parents do not plan to re-enroll their students in the Traditional Classroom Program, please call Mr. Roner at (760) 737-3154 by March 9.

Thank you for choosing Escondido Charter High School!

TCP Debuts New Promotional Video

The TCP yearbook class created a short promotional video highlighting the Traditional Classroom Program's vision and mission. The video debuted at the end of the parent orientation meeting on February 16, 2012. Students Julia Carbajal, Jonathan Currie, Caleb Holliday, and Kristin Robbio provided voice talents. Students Joel Bradley, Izzy Domi, Jessica Garcia, Andrew Kennedy, and Jan Ocampo filmed the live footage. WATCH THE VIDEO >>