April Highlights
High School Student Shout-Outs:
- Parents! Want to give your senior a shout out? Email tlcstudentnews@learningchoice.org and we will pick a few to include in future newsletters.
- Congratulations to Camden Haraden, 11th grade student from TLC San Diego, for receiving the top merit aid award from the University of Arizona's Honors College! This is an incredible distinction and Camden is excited to start his next chapter at the U of A.
- Congratulations to Andrea Diaz, 10th grade student from TLC Chula Vista for being accepted to NYU and Columbia University Pre-College Programs! Andrea had to submit an application, write an essay and obtain two letters of recommendation as part of the admissions process. She will be attending one of the programs this summer. We are so excited she got into these competitive programs!
Social-Emotional Learning
TLC's New Social-Emotional Learning Vision Statement
TLC’s Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) committee was formed in September 2021 and includes teachers from each school site site, our SEL School Counselor, and our two School Psychologists.
Over the past seven months, this committee has worked together to survey students, parents, and teachers to gain a deeper understanding of the SEL-related issues that students are facing, and what teachers need in order to best support them.
Together, this committee developed TLC’s new SEL vision statement. The purpose of this statement is to guide the SEL work that TLC is doing in order to make sure it aligns with our current needs, while getting us to where we want to be as a community.
The SEL committee is continuing their work by strengthening adult SEL competencies, continuing to promote SEL with students, and encouraging opportunities for students to share their voices and engage with the school. All of their efforts are aimed towards impacting our community in positive ways.
We look forward to sharing with you future details about our SEL work, and ways to be involved – all guided by our new vision.
Student Work Spotlight
This month's student work spotlight showcases the art of KeilannaRose Solara Antoine, 9th grade student at TLC Chula Vista. KeilannaRose enjoys making glass paintings of her favorite Korean actors, Kpop singers, and Marvel Superheroes.
If you are a student and you would like to submit work to be featured, email tlcstudentnews@learningchoice.org. Submissions can be videos, written pieces, art work, or anything that highlights what you have learned at TLC.
Bernie Moir: Published Author & Softball Standout
In last month’s newsletter, we spotlighted Ms. Wilson’s 1st and 2nd grade students for being published authors. This month, one of those students has made strides not only in the classroom, but on the softball field. Bernadette Moir, known as Bernie to her teammates, classmates, family and friends, is in her 2nd year at TLC La Mesa.
To learn more about Bernie, check out her interview below with her opposing East County Softball Coach and La Mesa Office Manager, Kimmi Acosta.
Kimmi: Congratulations on your recent book publication! What was your favorite part about becoming a published author?
Bernie: Probably drawing the pictures; I drew the sloth!
Kimmi: Do you think you will write another book someday?
Bernie: I don’t know, maybe. But if I do, I think it will probably be about sloths because I love sloths.
Kimmi: How long have you been at TLC?
Bernie: This is my 2nd year here, but first year on site.
Kimmi: What do you love most about TLC?
Bernie: Everything! My friends, my teachers, everything!
Kimmi: How long have you played softball?
Bernie: This is my first year and it is so fun.
Kimmi: What is your favorite position in softball?
Bernie: Right field, because I get to back up all the throws to first and I get to run after the ball.
Kimmi: What is your favorite part about hitting?
Bernie: Well I just like to hit, but my least favorite thing is sometimes the pitchers miss and I get hit in the leg.
Kimmi: Most memorable experience with softball?
Bernie: Getting my first hit!
Kimmi: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Bernie: I want to be a farmer, grow carrots and stuff… cherries, definitely, blackberries, but my main focus is going to be about the animals. Horses, cows, goats, sheeps and chickens.
Kimmi: Will you have a pet sloth on your farm?
Bernie: If I can, yes.
Kimmi: Thank you so much for your time, Bernie. Good luck on the field and keep up the hard work in the classroom!
TLC La Mesa Celebrates Another Published Author
TLC La Mesa 3rd grader, Lyric Early, recently had his first book, Life with Lingo published! He even did a book signing at Oya Art Gallery & Boutique. This book is about a fantasy character whose parents teach him how to invest. As Lyric's dad describes,
He really enjoyed doing this with me, as this series came about during the pandemic. We spent so much time by ourselves and we needed to fill the time with something more than television. I wanted to figure out how I could make learning fun and keep Lyric interested. So I asked him if he wanted to write a story with me. This is what we came up with.
Life with Lingo is available on Amazon. TLC will make sure to inform our community about future books as well. We can't wait to see what else Lyric creates!
Every Kid Healthy Week
April 25-29 celebrates Every Kid Healthy Week. The following description is taken from Action for Health Kids:
Every Kid Healthy™ Week is an annual observance created in 2013 to celebrate school health and wellness achievements. Recognized on the calendar of National Health Observances and observed the last full week of April each year, each day of the week shines a spotlight on the great actions schools and families are taking to improve the health and wellness of their kids and the link between nutrition, physical activity, mental health and learning – because healthy kids are better prepared to learn and thrive!
Take action during Every Kid Healthy Week
Anyone (students, parents/caregivers/families, educators, school administrators, community members, businesses) can take action during Every Kid Healthy Week by following the Every Kid Healthy Week daily themes or building your own activities based on your needs or schedule. Get daily activity ideas here.
Make sure to share your healthy actions with socialmedia@learningchoice.org!
An art-based social-emotional health activity for mindfulness and sensory-based learning
Here is one activity provided as part of Every Kid Healthy Week that incorporates a number of health practices in one. This activity will guide you through a mindfulness-based learning experience that includes reflections on feelings, teaching about gardening, and more -- all through a hands-on art-based approach.
Shareable Items to Spread the Word
Why Families Choose To Homeschool
While TLC has been supporting families with Homeschooling and Hybrid Homeschooling since 2004, this path has become much more common for families following the pandemic.
One of TLC's supporters, the VELA Education Fund, helps families, schools, and nonprofits across the country with homeschooling students. They recently created this video to show the special side of homeschooling. We encourage you to check out the video, feel inspired, and share with others! (Making sure to tag TLC so families know how to find us).
Virtual tour of our Chula Vista School Site
To conclude our virtual tour series, you can find our Chula Vista campus tour below. And here are links to our La Mesa and San Diego virtual tours in case you missed them.
Do you know a family who might be interested in enrolling at TLC? Please refer them to our website. They can also email enrollment@learningchoice.org at any time.
Meet Sammi
This month's pet comes from Alexis Moreno, 10th grade student at TLC Chula Vista. Sammi is a resilient little friend with an unflattering nickname, read on to learn what it is...
Animal: Dog
Breed: Mutt (probably between golden retriever and cocker spaniel).
Nickname: Loaf (because she looks like one)!
Hobbies: Watching TV with her family.
Favorite Food: Doritos
Fun fact: She is 7 years old, has gone through two surgeries and health conditions, but is STILL going strong!
Nominate your pet to be featured in an upcoming newsletter here!
STAR Student Recognitions
April: Trustworthiness
TLC recognizes STAR students each month based on a determined character trait. April's character trait is Trustworthiness. Students are nominated by their Educational Partners and School Site Administrators. Congratulations to this month's STAR students!
Kimberly Bernabe Gatica
Benjamin Curley
Mia Emma Weaver
Paola Enriquez
Credits:
Created with images by Fahkamram - "Abstract lights of green nature using as background or wallpaper concept. " • Grafvision - "Gardening background with garden tolls"