JANUARY 2009 SSC PARENT INVITES--Click here for the parent invitations for our SSC, ELAC, and CEAC meetings on January 22, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.

BOOK REPORT FORMS--One of our teachers recently requested book report froms. There are a lot of book report formats available on the Internet, but here are some designed especially for Carlson teachers: for K-1 students (using simple printing/drawing), for students in grades 1-3 (simple fiction and simple nonfiction), and for students in grades 3-8 (fiction and nonfiction). The forms will also be available in the Teacher Resources section of this site.

FREE HARVARD TUITION FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS--The president of Harvard University has announced that tuition to Harvard will now be free for undergraduate students from low-income families. The cut-off is apparently $60,000 a year. Keep in mind that Harvard applicants must be academically outstanding to get into the university in the first place--so you should only refer impressive kids. But still: what a great idea! For more info, go to Harvard's financial aid website by clicking here.

PROGRESS REPORTS AND WINTER BREAK--Teachers, be aware that the semester ends for five secondary tracks at the start of winter break. That means, not only that progress reports should be issued, but that credits as well as grades must be included--and some of those students will then need to be signed up for intersession in January if possible. The tracks are as follows: 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, and 4C. Single-track is not affected; its semester ends on February 6th.

ADDITIONAL INFO REGARDING IEPS AND PROGRESS REPORTS--A couple of questions have come up regarding the relationship between IEP goal sheets due at IEP meetings and IEP goal sheets being requested as part of the Carlson progress report process. These are two separate processes, following two separate schedules. Per Carlson administrators, because IEP goals are involved in the curriculum and grading of those students who have them, it is important that IEP goals be a part of the progress report process--to be submitted with progress reports, on that schedule. (See also Progress Report Guidelines below.)

SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING CONTEST--Consider having your students in grades 7-12 participate in the Scholastic Writing Awards this year. They might win scholarships and see their work published. It could even be the start of a career! Any student can enter, but keep in mind that this is pretty competitive, with up to 75,000 entries nationally. (Some well-known past winners include Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, and Joyce Carol Oates. Really!) Click here to get more information and have students register. They can register now, then turn in their work later. Submissions are due between December 19 and January 9, so this should probably be handled before Winter Break. The Visual Arts categories are Animation, Ceramics and Glass, Computer Art, Design, Drawing, Graphic Story, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Video and Film, also senior portfolios. Writing categories include Dramatic Script, Humor, Journalism, Novel Writing, Personal Essay/Memoir, Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Short Story, and Short Short Story, plus senior portfolios.

CORRECTION TO DECEMBER 2008 CALENDAR--You probably guessed this one already, but here's the clarification: The December calendar teachers received at the November 18th Staff Development meeting indicates that the office will be open on December 22, 23, and 26 during the first week of Winter Break. The correct dates are December 22, 23, and 24. The Carlson office will be closed on December 25 and 26 of that week.

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