Welcome to the Vallejo Charter School Website. Vallejo Charter School (VCS) is a Kindergarten – 8th Grade public charter school. The Vallejo Charter School is a community-based education project initiated by parents and community members. Our overriding goal is to provide an additional choice and educational opportunity for Vallejo families. The educational program is designed so that children of various learning styles and abilities will thrive in a child centered, experiential, and active learning environment, that embraces the whole child. The curriculum is based on the Expeditionary Learning Schools (ELS) Design Principles and Core Practices and Benchmarks.

Our relationship with VCUSD is highly collaborative; VCS operates as a school of the district.  VCS is the first K-8, Expeditionary Learning public charter school in our district.  It focuses on a culture of mutual respect and teamwork, fostering a love of learning, diversity and inclusion, and an expectation of high achievement for all of our students.

Please visit our page regularly for updates. To see our Arts Program in action, join us at the Celebration of Dance & Arts on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 and Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the Hogan Auditorium at 6:30PM. Proceeds from the celebration will help fund the VCS Arts Program.

Each family at VCS is expected to perform a minimum of 20 hours per school year. This policy is outlined in the VCS Parent/Caregiver/Family Involvement Plan. There are many ways to volunteer at VCS and opportunities are posted regularly in Blue Notes in Thursday folders. All volunteer hours must be completed by the 2nd Monday in April. Families log their hours in the grade level log books located in the VCS office. Hours should be logged on the oldest child’s page.

Please consult the VCS Parent/Caregiver/Family Involvement Plan 2013 for details about important dates and the volunteer guidelines at VCS. Please check Blue Folders for volunteer needs at VCS. If you have any questions or comments about volunteer hours or need assistance finding a way to earn volunteer hours, please contact Family Volunteer Lead Sarah Kirley at kirleys3@att.net.

Volunteer-Policy-MBA-Revisions-5.6.12

Some important reminders.

Please remember that the VCS Parking Lot is reserved for teachers and staff. We have increased the number of handicap parking spots for our families. Remember, the first blue handicap spot is RESERVED for one of our community members. This is clearly parked with a sign and placard. Please abide by simple rules of civilty and conduct. It is not a good practice for our students to witness adults arguing publicly in the parking lot. Please refrain from this behavior. If we do not want to see our students doing this, then parents should NOT be doing it either.

Top 12 Frequently Asked Questions about Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
1. Will transitional kindergarten (TK) be mandatory for children with birthdays between November 2 and December 2?
Just like Kindergarten, transitional Kindergarten enrollment will be voluntary.

2. How is TK different from preschool?
The standards, curriculum and teaching requirements in transitional kindergarten will be different from preschool. Transitional kindergarten will be part of the K-12 public education system and it will be based on the kindergarten standards. It will build on the skills children may have learned in preschool to ensure they will be able to begin kindergarten with confidence.

3. How is TK different from traditional kindergarten?
Although the curriculum in transitional kindergarten will be based on the kindergarten standards, it will be modified to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of younger children. The transitional kindergarten environment will include more opportunities for social-emotional, language development and communication through dramatic play; small group instruction; and intentional teaching through hands-on activities.

4. How long is a typical TK day?
Transitional kindergarten will be the same number of minutes per day as traditional kindergarten.

5. Will TK provide support for children who do not speak English?
English learners in transitional kindergarten will have the same level of services as those in kindergarten.

6. Will TK be free or will I have to qualify based on income?
Transitional kindergarten will be free and open to all age-eligible children.

7. What kinds of qualifications will TK teachers have?
Transitional kindergarten teachers will be required to have a teaching credential, just like kindergarten teachers.

8. How will this affect children in special education?
Districts will be required to offer the same services to transitional kindergarteners with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) as they currently offer to children in kindergarten.

9. What grade will children go into after TK?
Transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten experience. Most children will go on to kindergarten after completing transitional kindergarten, however some children may move to first grade based on the District’s criteria for promotion.

10. Will children with birthdays between September 2 and November 1 be eligible for TK this year?
Transitional kindergarten will be open to students with Sept and October birthdays. Because these children are also eligible for traditional kindergarten in 2012-13, parents will be required to sign a Kindergarten Continuation Form.

11. Where will TK be offered?
At this time we do not have enough eligible transitional kindergarteners to provide a class at each elementary school. Locations will be determined by enrollment numbers and available space. That information will be available by June.

12. How and where can I enroll my child in TK?
Registration is now open for the 2012-13 school year. Please register your child at your neighborhood school. You will need the following documentation in order to enroll a new student: an up-to-date record of immunization; an original birth certificate (or certified copy, passport, hospital registration of birth; immigration Visa; proof of address, for example current utility bill lease agreement, current insurance documents or close of escrow documents.

Students plant trees on Mare Island, graduate from mini med school

It could have been “Bob.”

But instead, a group of fourth-graders decided to name their newly planted California live oak after a wish: Peaceful Future.

“It was really nice to be able to come out here with my friends and be able to help the community,” said Isaiah Harper, a 9-year-old from Vallejo Charter School.

The school sent two classes on a field trip Friday to Mare Island as part of an Arbor Week outreach program by Solano Advocates for Green Environments (SAGE) and a coalition of local groups.

This is the third year SAGE has had the program, with elementary school students planting trees in City Park last year, SAGE executive director Sarah Nichols said.

Nichols demonstrated how to plant the California live oak on U.S. Forest Service property on Mare Island.

“If it’s planted too deeply, the tree could actually suffocate and die,” Nichols said, unwinding some of the sapling’s roots.

As in past years, the program was part physical, part living history lesson as students not only wrested trees into the ground, but also learned about Vallejo’s own roots.

“I think it’s fun planting trees and knowing more about where we live,” 9-year-old Janelle Hines said.

The field trip also included a visit from medical students and pediatric faculty at nearby Touro University.

Students were able to get brief hands-on experience listening to heartbeats, experimenting with taste buds and getting a feel for osteopathic medicine.

“I think it’s been kind of cool,” 9-year-old Sarah Pettigrew said.

The field trips will continue through early next week and will include elementary school students from across the city.

Full Story

Charter Meeting Agenda for Thursday February 9th. (pdf 45kb)

Systems of the Human Body
Articles by Mr. Hite’s 5th Grade Class – (2.1 MB PDF)