Raleigh Charter High School

IMPORTANT DATES
THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
NEWS AND NOTES
PICTURE DAY
DRIVERS, CHECK YOUR EMAIL
NO DROP OFFS OR PICK UPS AT HALIFAX COMMUNITY CENTER
OUR PASTA POT NEEDS FILLING
COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL
THEY'RE NOT IGNORING YOUR EMAIL
DRIVER'S ED FORMS AVAILABLE
COUNT ON HELP FROM MATH LAB
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE EXPLORES OUR DIFFERENCES
COLLEGE COUNSELING NEWSLETTERS
GETTYSBURG TRIP PLANNED
AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED FOR RCHS STATE FAIR
LINK YOUR STORE CARDS, RAISE MONEY FOR RCHS
ENTERTAINMENT BOOK HELPS FAMILIES AND SCHOOL
REGISTER NOW FOR PSAT IN OCTOBER
HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BALLAST?
THE SPORTS PAGE
TAILGATING FUN: FOOD, MUSIC, PLANTS ON THE PATIO
WEEKLY ATHLETIC CALENDAR
LINKS OF INTEREST
PUBLICATION INFORMATION

IMPORTANT DATES
SEPTEMBER
15 Picture Day
17 Diversity Committee meeting, 5:00 p.m., Room 200
22 Teacher Workday
24 Coffee with the Principal, 8:45-9:40, Room 309 (Parking on Haynes Street)
26 Flex Day

OCTOBER
3 Flex Day
3 Tailgate Dinner, 5:00-7:00 p.m., RCHS Patio
7 Diversity Committee new parent round table discussion, 6 p.m., Drama Room
9-10 Fall Break
13 RCHS Board of Directors Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Room 300
15 PSAT: Dismissal at 12:00
16 PASTA Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m., Room 305

THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Our parents contribute so much to our school in terms of financial support and work equity. We appreciate all you do. I wanted to take a moment to clarify why our unique school has unique needs.

All public schools receive funding from the federal, state, and local governments. Your taxes are definitely at work. The monthly revenues we receive from Wake County, where about 98% of our students live, enable us to match the supplements that all teachers in the Wake County Public School System receive. Charter schools do not have to follow any particular salary schedule, but we want to be competitive and to support our instructional staff.

When PASTA asks you for contributions, the fundraising co-chairs point out the added value that we offer at our school. We add value in our programming and services.

About 60% of our budget each year goes to staffing: salaries and benefits.

About 20% of our budget goes to the physical plant: rent and maintenance.

That leaves about 20% for everything else: from educational programming to office supplies to athletics to the legal and accounting requirements of all public schools.

Perhaps you have read about how Wake County commissioners provide land and buildings for WCPSS schools. A charter school does not get capital funding from its local county. Charter schools are also not part of the allotment from the Education Lottery. The lottery law excluded charter schools from benefiting from the proceeds.

Charter schools try to do more with less.

Did you know that high schools are more expensive than middle and elementary schools? The money that a large school system or even a large K-12 charter school receives can therefore be spread out to cover the increased costs as students grow older. As a dedicated charter high school, we do not have that luxury. We work in the expensive arc of that cost curve.

Did you know that we have a very fine technology support system? I have learned not to take for granted the fundamental assumptions of having a powerful and efficient tech system, though it is easy to take it for granted, given how wonderfully it hums, day in and day out.

Did you know that we have a very fine college-counseling office? We have three counselors, each with a reasonable student load. College counseling requires a year-round effort. Counselors focus on seniors primarily in the fall, and they begin to work with juniors and junior parents in the spring. Our counselors are making our little school very well known to colleges across the nation, so that students will have a variety of choices when the time comes to consider colleges, apply to them, and then accept acceptances from them. Parents of alumni can tell you about the special level of care and counseling that happens here. Our level of service is not typical of public high schools.

Do you know that our students are academically competitive with other students across our state and across our nation? Passionate, gifted, skilled teachers and staff contribute to the success of the students at our school.

Please consider giving to the PASTA Pot. PASTA actively supports our students and our teachers in so many ways. Every contribution counts as PASTA works to reach its goal of 100% participation. And thank you for all you do to make our school such a wonderful place for all of us to learn and study and grow.
Thomas E. Humble, Principal
thumble@raleighcharterhs.org

NEWS AND NOTES

PICTURE DAY
Picture Day is Monday, Sept. 15. Your student should have brought home a Picture Day Flyer with an attached envelope on Sept. 9. Please fill out the form (with payment) and have your student bring it with them on Monday, Sept. 15. All students will have the opportunity to be photographed but only students paying ON Picture Day will receive a package. Extra forms will be available outside Room 104. Please contact me if you have any questions.
William Thelen, Yearbook
wthelen@raleighcharterhs.org

DRIVERS, CHECK YOUR EMAIL
The email calling for drivers has gone out to the 449 email addresses on our driver list. Some families are registered with one email address.
Others have two email addresses. If you received two emails, one for each parent, please respond to each. Even if you cannot drive, please let us know you are unavailable.

If you did not receive the email, you can still sign up to drive by going to https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/volunteer
You will be asked for your password. If you do not know (or have forgotten) your password, it can easily be reset by following the directions provided at the login box.

After completing (and submitting) the sign-up form, you will receive an email thanking you for your submission.
You will receive your driving assignment TWO DAYS before departure (Sept. 24 and/or Oct. 1).

If you have difficulty with the website access to the sign-up form or have questions, please let us know via email at volunteerdrivers@raleighcharterhs.org

We need 30-40 drivers for each morning and each afternoon on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3. You can sign up for a morning, afternoon or multiple shifts over the two Fridays. Don't forget, our famous volunteer lunch will be available for all drivers.
Judy McDevitt, Community Liaison, and Carolyn Jackson, Development Officer
jmcdevitt@raleighcharterhs.org and cjackson@raleighcharterhs.org

NO DROP OFFS OR PICK UPS AT HALIFAX COMMUNITY CENTER
Parents are reminded not to drop off or pick up students at the Halifax Community Center as a way to avoid the car pool line. It is important that we do not disrupt the normal operations of the center or of the adjacent Nursery School. We would like to maintain good relations with our neighbors and continue to be able to use Halifax Center for athletics and other events.
Shayne Klein, Academic Dean and History Teacher
sklein@raleighcharterhs.org

OUR PASTA POT NEEDS FILLING
PASTA Pot letters are on their way! No selling magazines. No bugging co-workers to buy popcorn. No delivering wrapping paper. It is simple. RCHS PASTA has found that parents prefer to simply write a check and know that 100% of your contribution benefits all of our students. Please look for the PASTA Pot letter in the mail and return it with your contribution. As you may know, we do not get the same funding as public schools in our area, so every gift helps. We are striving for 100% participation and we truly thank you for your support.

If you do not receive a letter, please contact Lynne Chambers with the correct mailing information.

If you choose not to contribute, please indicate this on your reply card and return it so we can respectfully refrain from sending you future reminders.
Nancy Thompson and Lynne Chambers
PASTA Vice-Presidents of Fundraising and Co-Chairs of PASTA Pot
pullet@msn.com and lynnechambers@nc.rr.com

COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL
The first Principal's Coffee of the school year is coming up on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Join other parents, Dr. Humble and school officials for coffee and a light breakfast at 8:45 a.m. in the Drama Room. Hear school news and philosophy, ask questions, and visit with other members of the school family. There are only three of these special coffees this year.....don' t miss the autumn one! To get further
information about the coffee or to offer to bring a breakfast treat, contact Ruth Challener.
Ruth Challener
dchallener@nc.rr.com

THEY'RE NOT IGNORING YOUR EMAIL
If you send emails to staff members and do not get any response within a few days, your messages may be getting caught in our spam filter. Please give the staff member a call and resend the message.

To try to help us find important messages that are buried within the spam, please include RCHS in your subject line. Thank you for your persistence and your patience.
Lisa Huddleston, Academic Dean
lhuddleston@raleighcharterhs.org

DRIVER'S ED FORMS AVAILABLE
The RCHS office now has applications for Driver's Education. Students may stop by the office and pick up a registration form. The completed form should be dropped off at Broughton High School.
Students must be 14½ years old before taking the classroom or behind-the-wheel instruction.
Linda Hash, RCHS Office
lhash@raleighcharterhs.org

COUNT ON HELP FROM MATH LAB
Again this year the Math Lab is open for students to get extra help or simply to do math homework. Teachers are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays both before and after school. Morning sessions run from 8:10 until 8:40 in Room 108, and afternoon sessions are from 3:00 until 4:00 in Room 106.
Lisa Huddleston, Math Teacher and Academic Dean
lhuddleston@raleighcharterhs.org

DIVERSITY COMMITTEE EXPLORES OUR DIFFERENCES
The Diversity Committee will meet Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m., room
200. All interested persons are encouraged to attend. The following Diversity Committee meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 6:00 p.m. New parents are invited to a round-table discussion at that meeting. Please come and share with us your perspective of the Raleigh Charter experience.
Jacqui Hawkins-Morton, Diversity Committee Chair
jhmorton@ncsu.edu

COLLEGE COUNSELING NEWSLETTERS
Please have your seniors check the college counseling page of the RCHS website for the first newsletter of the year with information about upcoming admission receptions, open houses, scholarships, and a list of college visits to RCHS in September. Additionally, we are posting a new bulletin for juniors.
These items are on the website at https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/collegecounseling/program.asp
Glenda Atkinson, Director of College Counseling
gatkinson@raleighcharterhs.org

GETTYSBURG TRIP PLANNED
If you are interested in going on the trip to Gettysburg in April, stop by and see me in Room 300 or email me at the address below. We have about eight spaces left for students to travel with the America at War class.

The group will leave Thursday, April 2, and return on Saturday evening, April 4. We will spend all of Friday touring the battlefield and on the return trip on Saturday, we'll be stopping at the Museum of the Marines Corps in Quantico, VA.

I don't know yet exactly how much the trip will cost; it depends on the number of people who go. It should be in the range of $240 to $320 plus meals. That sum will cover the bus, hotel, and tour of the battlefield with a licensed battlefield guide.
Betsy Newmark, History Teacher
bnewmark@raleighcharterhs.org

AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED FOR RCHS STATE FAIR
Practically any donation of goods or services is welcome: tickets to sporting events or performing arts, gift certificates to stores or restaurants, vacation destinations, handmade items like desserts, quilts, baby things, sweaters, and artwork, professional services like massages, facials, hair and nails, will preparation, home organization, graphic design, etc.

Many items are in the form of a description of the item with contact information on a certificate or letter.

Your generosity is tax deductible, of course, and critical to the success of the Fine Arts Program at Raleigh Charter.

The RCHS State Fair will take place Saturday, Nov. 15, at the North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene, 9200 Strickland Rd. in Raleigh.
Janet McCormick, Muse Publicity
janetanddonnie@earthlink.net

LINK YOUR STORE CARDS, RAISE MONEY FOR RCHS
Harris Teeter, Target, Food Lion, Office Depot and Capital City Grocery contribute money directly to our school through sales when customers are linked. (Kroger does not participate at this time.) Raleigh Charter High School benefits greatly through these programs, so please support our school by linking your customer cards. In some cases, we have to link anew each year. Please double check your cards.

Now there is a convenient page on the school website where you can link each of your cards.
Go directly to https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/simplefund.asp
For Capital City Grocery, you will find a form to download and print.
Give the Capital City cashier the completed form for a key card that will provide RCHS with proceeds.

This is an easy way for Raleigh Charter to receive much-needed funds! If you have any questions, please contact me.
Mary Lawrence Stroud, PASTA Simple Fundraising Coordinator
MLS211707@aol.com

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK HELPS FAMILIES AND SCHOOL
Does your family enjoy great deals on dining, sporting, and cultural events? How about super discounts on travel and theme parks? If so, you won't want to miss this opportunity to pick up your copy of the 2009 Entertainment Book on sale now at RCHS. This annual fund-raiser is a smart way to save big, while knowing proceeds contribute to the success of the RCHS community. The 2009 book is value priced at only $20 and can be purchased by contacting me.
Karen McDonald, PASTA Entertainment Books Coordinator
kmcdonald2@nc.rr.com

REGISTER NOW FOR PSAT IN OCTOBER
Students will take the PSAT at Raleigh Charter on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. School will dismiss for the day immediately following the test.

Registration for the PSAT is easy…it's only one step. Just make your check payable to Raleigh Charter High School for $13, being sure to include the student's name on the memo line of the check, and deliver it to Mrs. Wall in the main office before Oct. 10.

We encourage all ninth-, tenth- and especially eleventh-grade students to register for the PSAT. More information about the test is available at www.collegeboard.com/psatextra
Kern Hairston, College Counselor
khairston@raleighcharterhs.org

HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BALLAST?
We're still trying to find out! If you can help with replacing ballasts around the school, please let me know.

Also needed: a lectern for one of the classrooms. Please contact me if you have any leads.
Pete Cotter, PASTA VP–Buildings and Grounds
pcotter@kintgs.com

THE SPORTS PAGE

TAILGATING FUN: FOOD, MUSIC, PLANTS ON THE PATIO
Phoenix Sports Boosters invite all RCHS families to our annual Tailgate Dinner on Friday, Oct. 3 on the patio at RCHS.
Looking for an opportunity to have a great barbecue meal, socialize with RCHS friends and families, purchase beautiful fall plants, listen to great music, and support the school's sports teams? Then reserve Friday evening, Oct. 3 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person for a fantastic NC barbecue dinner. Gorgeous fall mums, pansies, and ornamental cabbages from Logan's will be available for sale at the event. Bake sale goodies and a 50/50 raffle will also be available.
To purchase tickets, see one of the Phoenix athletes or contact Jack Bulkley or Kim Chandler.
Hope to see you there. Go Phoenix teams!
Jack Bulkley, Sports Boosters President and Kim Chandler
jack.bulkley@sas.com and chandler4@nc.rr.com

WEEKLY ATHLETIC CALENDAR
Saturday, 9/13
10:00 AM Cross Country at Wolfpack Invitational Meet (WakeMed/SAS Course)

Monday, 9/15
4:30 PM Women's Tennis at Cardinal Gibbons
4:30 PM Men's Soccer versus Orange at WakeMed Soccer Park #2

Tuesday, 9/16
5:00 PM Cross Country at Cedar Ridge
6:30 PM Volleyball versus Orange at Word of God

Wednesday, 9/17
4:30 PM Women's Tennis NC School of Science & Math at Whippoorwill Park
TBA Men's Soccer versus Cedar Ridge, location TBA

Thursday, 9/18
4:30 PM Women's Tennis versus Northwood at Pullen Park
6:30 PM Volleyball versus Cedar Ridge at Word of God

For directions to events, see https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/athletics/Sports_Directions.pdf

LINKS OF INTEREST
The following are quick links:
The Phoenix News at http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/news.asp
PASTA Fund-Raising at http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/simplefund.asp
Join PASTA at http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/membership.asp
PASTA Alumni at http://www.rchspasta.org/alumni/alumni.php
Lunch Vendors at https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/studentlife/lunch.asp
RCHS College Counseling Naviance at http://connection.naviance.com/fc/signin.php?hsid=raleighcharter
Calendar at http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta
Helpful Hints at https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/Pasta/hints.asp
The Flame at http://flame.raleighcharterhs.org
Helpful hints at http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/hints.htm
Extracurricular opportunities at http://rchspasta.org/extracurriculars.htm

PUBLICATION INFORMATION
The Raleigh Charter High School newsletter, the Phoenix News, is published each Friday of the school year as a service of Raleigh Charter High School's Parent, Administrator, Student, and Teacher Association (PASTA) and is distributed via an electronic news group. The Phoenix News is also available on the RCHS website at https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/news.asp

Parents, students and faculty are invited to share school-related news, recognize accomplishments and solicit volunteer needs via the Phoenix News.

**The deadline for submitting articles is every Tuesday at noon for publication the following Friday. Please send articles to phoenixnewseditor@yahoo.com

If you would like to receive the Phoenix News automatically each week, please subscribe to the RCHS Yahoo! news group by sending an email to RaleighCharterHS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Please indicate your student's name in the subject line so the moderator can verify that you are a member of the RCHS community.
Membership is monitored and available only to RCHS parents, students and personnel.

To unsubscribe from this group, send a blank email to RaleighCharterHS-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com