February 2017
Karen’s Corner
School Lane Charter School Reaches Historic Milestone
February was an incredible month of growth for School Lane Charter School! Now that registration is officially open for the 2017-2018 school year, the school can accept applications for students who wish to be a part of School Lane’s very first graduating class. The staff and administration areextremely excited to finally offer Grade 12 to students in our school. As we celebrate this historic milestone, our teachers and staff continue to work together to maintain a focused, positive, learning-centered climate.
Pennsylvania has recently made significant changes to the state truancy laws which impact charter schools. Earlier this month the SLCS sent home a letter to familiesdetailing the adjustments they can anticipate for the 2017-2018 school year. Please review these new policies with your family carefully. Minor uniform and dress code updates were also addressed. Supplemental updates will be sent to all families during the spring and summer months so that everyone is as informed and up to date as possible.
Administrators are awaiting a final decision on our acceptance for the IB Diploma Programme, which will be decided in the spring. SLCS administrators have been working closely with IB to fully develop the curriculum. In preparation for the implementation of this program, staff will attend IB workshops for professional development in June. Three members of our administrative team, including myself will attend the IB Global Conference in July, and have submitted a proposal to speak on the topic of successfully implementing a school wide inclusive Middle Years Programme.
Current Enrollment: 1,184
All number grades are currently at their capacity of 100 students with the exceptions of Grade 10 with 73 students and Grade 11 with 46 students.
Additionally, Kindergarten and Grade 1 have 125 pupils; Grade 9 has 109.
2017-18 Waiting Lists: 558
Currently, 46 siblings, 92 Bensalem residents and 39 other district residents for a total of 177 Kindergarten students are on the wait list for next school year.
The waiting list for Grades 1-12 totals 381 students with 25 additional incomplete applications.
Parents with Kindergarten students who are siblings of currently enrolled students will be notified of lottery results during the first week in March. Kindergarten students who are chosen through the lottery system can expect to join us for a screening event on March 25 to assess each future SLCS student’s assess children's academic development, problem-solving skills, motor skills, and social skills.
High School Report
SLCS annual Leadership Summit was a great success! The Bucks County Courier Times & ABC news were on hand to document the event. The leadership summit continues to provide the students with a real-life experience that will have lasting impact on their learning. Local community and business leaders shared their stories and interacted through student Q&A sessions.
Additionally, SLCS high school students put together a Tourism Fair for younger level Spanish classes. Each student shared history, food, culture and musical styles of popular Latin and South American cities. This collaborative effort allowed our younger students to see what they will be expected to achieve in higher levels of Spanish, should they wish to continue studying the language.
Middle Years Report
Students in Grades 7 & 8 enjoyed the Student Council “Winter Wonderland” Dance this month.
As we begin the second semester, new clubs and after school activities have also been introduced, allowing students to participate in groups that appeal to their areas of interest and passion.
Elementary Report
SLCS elementary students celebrated the 100th day of school with tons of excitement! Students and staff wore shirts with 100 items attached, decorated classroom doors with 100 things they have learned this year, responded to writing prompts about what they believe world will be like in 100 years, drew pictures of what they might look like in 100 years, and participated in many other activities involving the number 100. Activities reinforced language arts and math skills, and kept students engaged and entertained while enjoying this annual milestone.
Learning Support
This month the Learning Support department attended a transition training session with the BCIU#22. Our staff learned many helpful tips and received guidance on how to improve the development of IEP’s at SLCS. The partnership with BCIU #22 is ongoing, and representatives will visit SLCS in March to work individually with our teachers and staff.
This year SLCS is updating the ESL evaluation process to complete all ACESS assessments electronically. ACCESS assessments are annually required by the state, but were previously administered by individual teachers.
Upcoming Events and Closings:
- March 17 – No School for Students – Parent /Teacher Conferences
Board of Trustees Meetings
- March 23 - Regular meeting, 7 p.m.