College Happenings

The 2008-2009 school year brings with it our much anticipated, very first, High School Graduation! There is much to do and this Fall is proving to be a busy time for students, parents, and faculty alike.

We started this school year with a visit from the Western New York Consortium consisting of 17 local colleges in a mini-college fair atmosphere. Seniors had the opportunity to meet and talk with college representatives, discover program information and get on college mailing lists.

Shortly after our college fair, Oracle hosted a Fall College Night where Seniors and their families were invited to attend workshops highlighting "how colleges select students", "choosing a college major", "financial aid information", "visiting colleges", and an "overview of the SUNY system". This was a well-attended and informative night. Admission representatives from Niagara University, Buffalo State College, and Erie Community College were here to lend their expertise about the college process. Those who attended left with a better sense of the tasks at hand when planning a successful college transition.

Speaking of the college planning process, it wouldn't be the same without taking the PSAT and SAT. On Saturday (October 18th) the PSAT was administered for 10th and 11th grade students. This event was well attended and our students have commented on how they already feel better prepared for the time when they will take the "real" thing (the SAT!) Our Seniors will have the opportunity to take this important test for the second time on Saturday, November 1st.

I want to personally thank you for your support as your student takes on the challeges of navigating through the college preparatory process. When we work as a team everybody wins! Be sure to look for more information on upcoming events.

Diane Morgante
School Counselor

TerraNova Time!

Dear Parents,

On November 5th and 6th, 2008, your child will participate in the TerraNova Achievement Test. For those new to this type of assessment, the TerraNova is a standardized test designed to provide schools with the information they need to best help their students.

The areas being assessed will be Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics. The results of these tests will be used to analyze strengths and weaknesses, plan instruction based on results, plan for curriculum development, and to report progress to you, the parents.

To help your child prepare for the TerraNova, please ensure that on November 5th and 6th he or she:
Gets plenty of sleep the night before.
Eats a healthy breakfast.
Comes to school on time.

Thank you for the ongoing support and commitment to your child’s education. We look forward to another successful year of TerraNova testing.

Sincerely,


Joy Labarber
Curriculum Coordinator

What We're Learing: Spanish 1

We have been busy these months in Spanish building a second language foundation and learning numbers 1-100, adjectives to describe our appearance and surroundings, and facts about where we live...all in Spanish!

In October, using a project-based approach, my classes studied the life and art of Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter famous for her self-portraits and her heart-felt work. The project began with students learning about the details of Frida’s life and suffering, her marriage to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, and the politics and government of early 20^th century Mexico.

The next step in our quest to understand Frida Kahlo's work was to create an “autorretrato” or self-portrait, describing characteristics of each student. Each student worked on a two-part writing assignment in Spanish, a drawing or self-portrait, and finally a written piece titled: “Frida Kahlo inspires me because…”

Following are some excerpts from the students' writing:

• Frida Kahlo inspires me because she’s not afraid to express herself. All her artwork is based on something. Her artwork comes from the heart and soul. She gives me the energy to get up and try something new, such as self-portraits. Art is a way to relieve and express yourself." - D. Thompson
• “Frida Kahlo inspires me because her art work shows how she feels and that is how I draw most of the time.” - D. Clemens
  
• “Frida Kahlo inspires me because she was a strong woman of color. She went through a lot of pain and still managed to move forward in life. She was determined to walk and not be in a wheel chair for the rest of her life.” - L. Love
  
• "Frida Kahlo inspires me because I believe whatever you like doing, you should keep doing it. Frida loved doing her art, and I love playing basketball. A lot of people admire her work because it was good! Even though she was hurt, she still decided to do work that she admired." - M. Williams
  

On the last day of the “Frida Kahlo” project, students made protest banners, and we marched on the street shouting in Spanish sayings like: “ Long Live the Revolution”; “Down with Imperialism”; “ The Town United, Never to be Defeated"; “Revolution or Death”; “No to Porfirio, Yes To Pancho.” The students' "protest" re-enacted a Mexican revolutionary march to promote community involvement when Mexico was struggling against foreign involvement that took power away from Mexican citizens. The students really enjoyed “taking it to the street!”

Stay tuned for news on the up-coming project for “El Dia de los Muertos” or “The Day of the Dead.” Students will build a cemetery and alters at Oracle!

Sincerely,
Amber Coriale
Spanish Teacher and Foreign Language Department Chair

Oracle Teacher Honored as Educator of the Year by the Western Region PTA!

At the beginning of this school year, I told our Oracle students that I knew we would have a great year...because we had hired the very best teachers for them. It's pretty rare, however, that any school leader is able to make such a claim and have it backed up!

On Thursday, October 16th, Mrs. Stephanie Owen, Oracle Charter School's Math Department Chair, was honored at an awards dinner as the Western Region PTA Jane Skrzypek Educator of the Year for 2008! Congratulations, Mrs. Owen!

I am honored to have Stephanie Owen as a member of such a talented and dedicated team of teachers. Mrs. Owen is a truly committed teacher who has been with Oracle Charter School since we opened in 2005. In that time, Mrs. Owen has been responsible for consistently outstanding student test scores and has established the kind of classroom that makes students feel challenged, supported, and valued.

As a charter school teacher, Mrs. Owen is called upon to go above and beyond the call of duty that many public school teachers answer. She is called upon routinely to extend her time and focus beyond the classroom. In addition to being a results-oriented teacher, Mrs. Owen coordinates Oracle's student council, leads our school's Spirit Day activities, and administers our school store.

Mrs. Owen dedicates herself to each student's success and opportunity and drives herself to deliver outstanding results. Within a difficult discipline, mathematics, Mrs. Owen engages students to learn, to apply the skills she has taught them, and to trust both her processes and her dedication to their learning. Oracle students are deeply committed to Mrs. Owen as well, proving once again that students feel valued when they are held to high standards and supported to achieve those standards.

Mrs. Owen makes math achievement possible for her students and for our school.

Congratulations! And Thank you, Mrs. Owen!

Currently Teaching	Algebra, Math B, Pre-Calculus
Favorite Topic to Teach	Trigonometry

Gargoyles: A Sculptural Installation at OCS

Mr. Backes’ 3D Art students began the year with a group project based around large scale gargoyle creation. Students were tasked with forming effective, cooperative groups to design multiple two-dimensional sketches of possible gargoyles they would like to make. The groups were then introduced to small scale modeling clay building, where they transformed their sketch to a 3D model. Finally students used recycled materials from school shipments, including cardboard, Styrofoam, and newspaper to build full size medieval gargoyles.

All gargoyles went through the long process of paper mache then were coated in all sorts of paint jobs. In the end we had almost a dozen detailed gargoyles menacing the art room.

Traditional gargoyles are grotesque figures that were used, especially during the middle ages, as decorative downspouts on buildings. As our first quarter spirit day approaches, the gargoyles have taken positions around the building to both show off my students’ fantastic work and add to the fun of October.