Thank you parents and students for a successful year.  Report cards, if not picked up from me tomorrow (Friday), are available for pick up in the school office any time next week.  If you not able to stop by due to travel, send me an e-mail and I will mail the report card to you. Date Due

Special Request: Does anyone have video of “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” performed by our 5^th Grade class?  If so, please forward.  Thank you. Date Due Math

  Progress Reports went home Friday (5/3/12).  Bring a signed note stating that a parent has seen the progress report.

    Language Arts Poetry Journals will be due on May 16^th.     Field Day for 5^th Grade is Wednesday (tomorrow).  Please bring permission slips and bus money ($4.00) if you have not already.     Report cards will be distributed Friday morning 5/18.  If you do not attend on Friday the report cards will be available in the office for pick up during the following three weeks.  

Remember to keep reading and practicing your math skills this summer so you don't lose all that knowledge you gained this year.  Check out these math sites to practice and maybe even learn new skills.  I recommend that you quiz yourself after you read a book using Scholastic Reading Counts (you have to be registered through the school).  Please email me at lbaker@taoscharterschool. org if you forget your login or password.  SRC will also allow you to create a book list that you can use to shop for books online or at the library.  Taos Public Library has a very organized Summer Reading Program that you can participate in;  you might even win a prize!  Try to read 20-30 minutes a day or more.  If you read 4-5 books, I will reward you with a gift certificate for ice cream.  How will I know you are reading?  I can check the Scholastic Reading Counts report to see what books you read and if you understood them.  Oh, by the way, you have to pass 4-5 quizzes to qualify

I wish you all a relaxing and fun summer,

Leslie Baker

Ms. Flores

Field Day for grades 5-8 will be held May16th at 10:00am, and K-4 will be held May 17th at 10:30am.

Please send your children with appropriate clothing, H2O bottles, sunscreen and any medications (inhalers, etc.) that may be needed. Hot dogs will be served for lunch to all students. Parent help is always needed, so come join us for a fun day at Kit Carson Park.

Parents may pick up students at Kit Carson Park (5-8, 1:45pm) or (K-4, 2:00pm) or students may be picked up at school or ride the bus at regular times. A $4.00 bus fee is required from all students.

We've also found:

Flyaway Gymnastics Summer Day Camp Located at 1020 Reed St. Specially developed camp curriculum combines physical fitness and gymnastics along with arts & crafts and indoor games. Ages 4 &up.  Drop offs from 8:30 to 9:00am, half day campers pickup is 12:00pm, full day pickup is 4:00pm. $85/week, Drop-ins: $22/day, half day $15. Please call 751-8519 or email flyawaygymnasticsacademy@gmail.com for more information.

Summer Theatre/Dance Camp  June 11th -July 22nd Taos Children's Theatre:  Shakespeare's "The Tempest" Auditions will be Thursdays and Fridays, May 3/4, 10/11/ 17/18, 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Taos Youth Ballet Studio   Salazar & Canon West. Come Sprites and Fairy Beings, Princes and Princesses, Jesters, Magicians and Maids. All ages are welcome.  Bring a story, poem, dance or song, or a  combination of all to perform. Students learn improvisation, dance, vocal development, mime, stage movement, characterization.  Produced in part:  New Mexico Arts.  Call 758-5362 or email louiseida42@hotmail.com

Be safe, have fun and we'll see you in the fall!

2011 – 2012

This was a very successful year for Taos Charter School both academically and behaviorally. In each class a large percentage of students showed remarkable gains on the MAPS test, far beyond what the norm would have predicted.  After implementing school wide socio-emotional curriculums as well as an anti bullying program, suspensions were cut by 50% compared to the previous year.  Mr. Evans was recognized as one of 7 Golden Apple Teachers of the year and Taos Charter School was one of only 4 schools in New Mexico who received over 90 points on the state’s new School Report Card.

We have so much to be grateful for: great teachers, great students and great parents. However, funding continues to be a challenge.  Although staff cuts and program cuts have decreased our shortfall, throughout the year we will be looking for additional ways to reduce spending. These requests to the Friends won’t solve our ongoing budget shortfall, but they will help. Next year will be our most challenging budgetary year yet.

Budget Cuts

During the school year 2010-2011, Taos Charter School was cut by $43,000.00 by the state.  In  2011-2012 we had a 2% cut, or  $30,000.00.  For the 2012 – 2013 school year, our budget was cut by $36,000.00.

Spending Increases

Our contributions to employee retirement and health insurance will increase by $26,000.00 next year. During the 2011 – 2012 school year, we had higher expenses in special education auxiliary services and in using substitute teachers due to illness, approximately $34,000.00.  We have adjusted our budget for these higher expenses for next year.  However, we had had to reduce the budget in other areas.

Requests to the Friends of Taos Charter:

Six Partial Summer School Scholarships

Several teachers have students who need to attend summer school due to learning gaps but whose parents can’t afford the fee.  We are requesting the Friends assistance in the amount of 6 partial scholarships of $100.00 each.  $600.00

Everyday Math student workbooks for grades K – 5.

These are consumable workbooks that the school buys every year.  We are requesting the Friends assistance in funding the cost of these books.  $2,995.00 

Replacement of extremely damaged History and Geography Books grades 3 - 6

The Core Knowledge paperback History and Geography books are 10 years old.  We are requesting the Friends assistance in replacing 6 books in grades 3 and 4, and 10 books in grades 5 and 6. $1,864.00

 Total requests: $5,459.00