Your child(ren), along with public school students throughout California will participate in the state’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program this spring. The STAR testing program has four components:

• California Standards Test (CST) – The CSTs are multiple-choice tests for students in grades 2-11 and a writing test for students in grades 4 and 7.  The writing test is administered separately and during a different testing window.
• California Modified Assessment (CMA) – The CMAs are multiple-choice tests for students in grades 3-11 and a writing test for students in grades 4 and 7 for students who have an IEP requiring CMA, are receiving grade level instruction, and are not likely to achieve grade level proficiency within the year covered by the IEP. 
• California Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA) – The CAPA tests are administered to students in grades 2-11 with severe cognitive learning disabilities being instructed in an alternate curriculum and who cannot participate in the tests listed above even with accommodations or modifications.
• Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) – The STS tests are administered to Spanish-speaking English learners who have been enrolled in the United States public schools less than 12 months and Spanish speaking English learners enrolled in a bilingual program in grades 2-11.  The STS is administered in addition to the CST and/or CMA.

The school will test from Tuesday, May 8 – Thursday, May 10 and Tuesday, May 15 – Thursday, May 17 from 9:00-11:00 each day.

2^nd Grade

3^rd Grade

4^th Grade

5^th Grade

6^th Grade

For more information about STAR tests, visit the following Web sites:

General Information – http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/

Released Test Questions – http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp

Sample Test Questions – http://starsamplequestions.org/

A report of the student results on the STAR tests will be sent to your home by September. If your child(ren) take the STS, results for the test will be on a separate report.  The STAR results will provide you with valuable information regarding your child(ren)’s  academic progress. Individual student results are merged to prepare grade level reports for each school, district, county, and state. The results are also used to calculate the Academic Performance Index (API) and federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for some grade levels.

We encourage you to have your child(ren) tested. We believe that test results provide valuable information about your child(ren) for both you and the school. Parents/guardians may request that their child(ren) not be tested with any STAR tests or any specific content area. If you do not want your child(ren) tested, submit a written request to the school office prior to testing. Include the child’s/children’s name(s), birth date, grade and the specific test or content area from which they are to be exempted.  You do not need to provide a reason for your request. Be sure to sign and date the request.  Please note that STAR regulations indicate that if your request is received after testing has begun, any test(s) completed before the request is received will be scored and the results reported to you and included in the student’s records.

Our staff is planning several activities prior to the end of school to help you understand the children’s test scores when they arrive. We will send you more information about these activities when they are finalized. Please contact the school if you have questions about the spring STAR testing schedule or student and school results.

Sincerely,

Dr. Staci Block

Principal/Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Estimados Padres y Guardianes:

Su hijo/a al igual a los estudiantes de escuelas públicas en California, participará en el Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Programa esta primavera.   El programa STAR es un examen estandarizado que tiene cuatro componentes:

• California Standards Test (CST) – Los CSTs son exámenes de opción múltiple para estudiantes en grados 2-11, y un examen de escribir para estudiantes en grados 4 y 7.  El examen de escribir será dado separado y más adelante. 
• California Modified Assessment (CMA) – Los CMAs son exámenes de opción múltiple para estudiantes en grados 3-11.  Además, es un examen de escribir para estudiantes en grados 4 y 7 que tienen un IEP que requiere CMA, que estan recibiendo instrucciones de acuerdo a su grado, y no es probable que obtengan aptitud al nivel de su grado durante el año cubierto por el IEP.
• California Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA) – Los CAPA exámenes serán dados a los estudiantes en grados 2-11 con severas discapacidades de aprendizaje enseñados por otro currículo , y no pueden participar en los exámenes mencionados arriba aún con modificaciones.
• Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) – Los STS exámenes serán dados a los estudiantes hispanohablantes que están aprendiendo Inglés, que han estado matriculados en las escuelas públicas de los Estados Unidos menos de 12 meses, y a los estudiantes matriculados en una programa bilingüe en grados 2-11.  El STS será dado además del CST y CMA.

Los exámenes serán dados Martes, 8 de Mayo  –  Jueves, 10 de Mayo y Martes, 15 de Mayo – Jueves, 17 de Mayo a 9:00-11:00 cada día.

2^do  Grado

3^ro  Grado

4^to Grado

5^to Grado

6^to Grado

Para más información sobre los STAR exámenes, visíta los sitios de web mencionados abajo:

Información General – http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/

Preguntas públicadas- http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp

Ejemplo de las preguntas – http://starsamplequestions.org/

Un reporte de los resultados de los STAR  exámenes será enviado a casa en Septiembre.  Si su hijo/a toma el STS, los resultados estarán en un reporte separado.  Los resultados del STAR le proverán información valuable acerca del progreso académico de su estudiante.  Resultados individuales del estudiante serán combinados para preparar reportes de los grados para cada escuela, distrito, condado, y estado.  Además, los resultados serán usados para calcular el Academic Performance Index (API) y el federal Adequate Yearly Program (AYP).

Le aconsejamos que su hijo/a tome el examen.  Creémos que los resultados proveran información valuable acerca de su hijo/a para usted y la escuela.  Padres/guardianes pueden pedir que su hijo/a no tome cualquier parte del examen o el examen entero.  Si usted quiere que su hijo no tome el examen, por favor mande una nota por escrito a la oficina de la escuela antes de la fecha del examen.  Incluya el nombre de su hijo, fecha de nacimiento, grado y el examen o el parte del examen que no quiere que su hijo tome.   No necesita dar ninguna explicación sobre su decisión.  Por favor incluya la fecha y firme la nota.  Si usted hace esta petición despues de que los STAR exámenes han comenzado, cualquier examen(es) ya tomado antes de que su petición se ha recibido será correjido y los resultados serán reportados a usted y incluídos en los archivos del estudiante.

Nuestro personal de la escuela está planeando actividades antes de que termine el año escolar para ayudarle a entender los resultados de los exámanes.  Le mandaremos más información sobre estas actividades cuando seán finalizadas.  Por favor llamar a la oficina si tiene alguna pregunta sobre las fechas del STAR examen o los resultados de su estudiante y la escuela.

Sinceramente,

Dra. Staci Block

Directora de Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts

To view the presentation, click here.

On May 19, 2012, more than 500 parents, friends, and community members will attend our sixth annual Big Night Out silent and live auction at our school. In order to make this a great success, we’re asking our school community to help gather donations for the silent and live auctions.

Be sure to take this donation letter and donation form to every restaurant, theater, salon, yogurt shop, cupcakery and yoga, music and dance class you frequent and ask them to donate. Remind them that our school community loves to support businesses that support our school! Take the forms with you everywhere. Share them with your friends.

Big Night Out is our biggest fund raiser of the year so we need everyone’s help. Donations must be received by May 13th to be included in our event.

Contact Sharon Reilly with any questions.

The PTA would like to make sure all student runners are encouraged, energetic, and excited for the Jogathon on March 16th. Help them get mentally and physically ready at our TRAINING DAY! Come join us this Saturday, March 3rd for a pre-Jogathon training run (approx. 2 miles) in Griffith Park from 11:00am to noon.

Mr. Wenger has been working very hard with our students to get them ready for the big day, and we’d like to offer an additional day of training to keep everyone motivated. So head over to Griffith Park to join in on some healthy family fun this Saturday from 11:00am to noon. Meet Ezra Weisz and Lisa Bingham on the lawn by the Autry Museum, dressed comfortably and ready to run.

There is much to do to pull off an event of this size, and we are looking to our community to help prepare our children for a successful running and fundraising experience. We are looking for 6 volunteers to man water stations along the training route. We are looking for creative, energetic folk to jazz up their station and motivate the kids (think music, silly hats, noise makers – lots of spirit and energy!). Please contact Ezra at ezraweisz@gmail.com if you are that person and are able to lend a hand and some cheer.

Sincerely,
PTA’s 2012 Jogathon Committee
Melissa Disharoon (chair), Lisa Bingham, Betina Papadeas and Ezra Weisz

Start warming up now for PTA’s 4th Annual JOGATHON to be held FRIDAY, MARCH 16th. This fun even falls on the final day of our Spirit-of-Giving Week and all parents and community members are welcome to participate!  Last year’s fun-run raised over $76k and our goal this year is $100,000!  All proceeds from this year’s JOGATHON will support “Outdoor Adventures” for our students to include improvements to our garden, playground enhancements, sporting equipment, funding for field trips and buses, support for our 5th & 6th grade class trip to Catalina Island, and much more!  The student to raise the most money this year will receive an amazing KINDLE FIRE!
 
Students will be running along with their classmates at designated times throughout the day. Click here for the Class Running Schedules!

 
Volunteers are much needed and all are welcome! To sign up to volunteer for this amazing event please visit www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0D4FA9AB23A02-ptas or contact Melissa Disharoon at thedisharoons@mac.com.

At LFCSA we know it takes a village to raise a child. We have an entire village of such dedicated, talented and motivated parents and families members that support our school’s programs, building and committees. We would like each of you in your family to take a moment to share with our LFCSA new administration, teachers, and committee leaders what assets you bring to our school. Please take about 5 minutes to share about your profession, partnerships with business and/or interests/skills/hobbies that you can offer to LFCSA. We will compile all of this information as a directory database for administration, teacher leadership and committee leads when planning future projects and events. We want LFCSA to continue to be a community where all families can come together for the well being and growth of LFCSA.

Please respond to this survey by Wednesday, March 7, 2012.

You can access the survey by clicking here!

Please share this link with additional family members: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NGRKDY3

Underneath each category that pertains to your interests or experience please include the following:
• Your Full Name
• Your Child/rens’ name/s and grade level/s
• Your email
• Your Phone Number
• Your response – For each category that pertains to you, please include a few sentences that encompass your specific assets, skills or partnerships. You can also include any vision or ideas that you have for this category. Remember, you can respond to as many categories that pertain to you. It’s best to copy and paste your name and contact information for each category that you respond to in this database survey and include a couple of new sentences for each category that pertains to you.

Categories:
• Architecture or Interior Design
• Advertising and Design
• Classroom decoration/maintenance/organization
• Computers & technology
• Cooking/food preparation
• Eco-issues (school greening, recycling, etc.)
• Event/party planning/decoration
• Fundraising
• Gardening
• Grant-writing
• Handcrafts – Sewing/Knitting/Etc.
• Local Businesses and Companies
• Medical/Emergency/Counseling
• Outdoor Education
• Performing Arts – Music/Dance/Theater
• Photography or Film Making
• Restaurants
• Social Media/Media Relations
• Television/Movies/Production
• Visual Arts – Painting/ Drawing/Design
• Other
• Additional Ideas or Information

LFCSA 5th and 6th grade students have an amazing opportunity to experience outdoor education at the Catalina Island Marine Instutite (CIMI) at Toyon Bay. CIMI is a science camp on Catalina Island that will provide our students, your children, with an amazing experience that has the potential to not only increase their knowledge and interest in science, but may spark a life-long passion for learning.

LFCSA has made the reservation for our 5th and 6th grade students to visit CIMI Toyon Bay for a three-day, two-night excursion from Friday April 20 – Sunday April 22. While at CIMI, students will learn about marine life and island habitat through various activities such as snorkeling, taking an island ecology hike and astronomy hike, kayaking, and participating in sea labs with marine mammals, planton and algae.

Students are housed in gender-specific dorms with our fifth and sixth grade teachers and CIMI camp staff as chaperones. The cost to send each student is $300, which includes camp fee, all activities, all meals, Catalina Express transportation, food, lodging, teacher chaperones, and supplies. Our first collection of funds will take place on Thursday February 9th, 2012. Some families choose to submit the entire student portion of $300, while others will turn in a deposit of $200 by February 29th. The remaining balance of $100 will be collected by Friday March 23, 2012.

It is our goal to complement our academic programs at LFCSA with interactive curricular excursions such as CIMI. We hope that participating 5th and 6th grade students will have an experience at CIMI they never forget! No student will be denied from participating due to inability to pay. Please consider making a donation to sponsor another student’s participation fee.

To pay for your child or to sponsor another LFCSA student:
Please make checks payable to Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts. Remember to write CIMI and the name of your child, or “CIMI Sponsorship” in the memo field.

To pay for your child or sponsor another student via PayPal, enter your payment option and click on the button below.

Payment Options

Total Cost $300.00 USD Deposit – Due 2/29/12 $200.00 USD Remaining Balance – Due 3/23/12 $100.00 USD

Is it a donation to sponsor an LFCSA student (not your child)?

Yes No