Welcome to the summer edition of the Phoenix News. It's packed with information that parents and students need for the start of school, so be sure to read it all the way to the end! If your browser does not display the issue in a readable format, you can also find it on the RCHS website at:
https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/news.asp

You must log in to view all the information in the issue.

Beginning Aug. 21, the Phoenix News will be emailed to you every Friday. If you have school news to share, accomplishments to recognize, or volunteer needs to solicit, please send them to us at the address below. The deadline is every Tuesday at noon for publication the following Friday. Articles for the next issue are due at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Robin Morris and Karen Gamble, Phoenix News Co-editors
phoenixnewseditor@yahoo.com

IMPORTANT DATES
THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
JUDGING BY THE NUMBERS
NEWS AND NOTES
PASTA WANTS YOU
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS
OFFICE HOURS
SUMMER READING
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
WISH LISTS
SECOND FRIDAY
NEW BOOK SALE OPTIONS
TIME SHORT FOR CARPOOL SIGN-UP
FUN FOR FRESHMEN
UPDATE YOUR ONLINE DIRECTORY INFO
SCIENCE COMPETITIONS
GRADUATION VIDEOS ARE READY
CAN YOU HELP?
WELCOME TEACHERS IN STYLE
CLEAN UP, FIX UP, SHAPE UP
SECOND FRIDAY CELEBRATION
LINK UP FOR FREE MONEY
FLEX DAYS COMING EARLY
THE SPORTS PAGE
GEARING UP FOR FALL SPORTS
TRYOUTS START MONDAY
NEW MIX IN CONFERENCE
ATHLETICS FEES
LINKS OF INTEREST
PUBLICATION INFORMATION

IMPORTANT DATES
AUGUST
3 Fall sports tryouts begin
7, 8, 12 School clean-up days
10 Office resumes regular hours
Welcome Back Lunch for teachers and staff
17 First day of school: Orientation
18 Classes begin
28 Second Friday Celebration, 12:05–2:40 p.m.

SEPTEMBER
2 Freshmen Parents' Back-to-School Night
10 Upperclassmen Parents' Back-to-School Night
18, 25 Flex Days
24 End of first grading period
28 Teacher Workday

THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

JUDGING BY THE NUMBERS
A year ends; a year begins.

We are happy to have completed our Tenth Year of educating students, and we are anticipating more great accomplishments as we begin Year Eleven.

I would like to share with you some numbers from 2008-2009. The state reported that 1,476,566 students attended public schools (K-12) last year; 34,694 of these students were in charter schools. If charter schools comprised a system, we would be the seventh largest in North Carolina. Charter schools are, of course, not a system, but a group of 98 independent "systems," each one operated by its charter-school board.

Raleigh Charter High School's 520 students represent 1.5% of all N.C. charter-school students. We are the 20th largest charter school in the state (Franklin Academy in Wake Forest is the largest). And we were the largest charter high school: in 2008-2009, 16% of all N.C. charter high-school seniors attended our school.

In terms of No Child Left Behind, we achieved once again Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) by meeting 9 of 9 target goals. (Very large schools may have as many as 30 goals, based on their demographics.)

Preliminary reports (not official until the State Board of Education approves the results) show that our students did quite well on our nine state-mandated End-of-Course Tests. A performance composite that shows the percentage of students who are working at grade level or above may be published soon; that composite is usually published on the first Friday in August. That composite is for all nine EOC Tests that we give at our school.

And our students performed quite well on Advanced Placement© examinations. A very large number of students take AP exams; that number, as you may know, creates the numerator for the Challenge Index that informs Newsweek's public high school rankings (the denominator is the number of graduates in June 2008). Newsweek published its rankings online only this year: RCHS was ranked 33rd based on the 2008 data. U.S. News and World Report uses AP and other information for its rankings in December.

We brag that our students do well, in general terms. And we may, at a later date, brag more with more specific data. But all of these tests—and the PSAT, the SAT, and the ACT, are individual tests—and we try our best to see them as individual tests. We create an environment where our students, individually, can stretch and can accomplish as much as they can.

Welcome to our new students and families, and welcome back to our returning students and families. And congratulations and best wishes to our most recent graduates of the Class of 2009, our eighth class of alumni and alumnae!
Tom Humble, Principal
thumble@raleighcharterhs.org

NEWS AND NOTES

PASTA WANTS YOU
We are looking forward to another great year at RCHS for all of our students and their families. One of the first and most important steps your family can take to support RCHS is to join PASTA, our Parent, Administrator, Student, Teacher Association. We hope that all families will sign up on Monday, Aug. 17, the first day of school, in Room 310. PASTA officers will be available to answer questions and sign up volunteers for one or more of our many activities requiring parental support. They will also be selling Entertainment Books for $20 each.

The Phoenix News is the main vehicle that PASTA uses to share important information with parents, so please read it thoroughly each week. In addition, we will occasionally issue email messages to the Yahoo group to remind parents of important events or inform them of late-breaking news. (If you received this Phoenix News by email, then you are signed up for the Yahoo group.)

PASTA has been very busy over the summer spearheading many physical improvements to the school buildings; hopefully many of you will come to school on Friday, Aug. 7, Saturday, Aug. 8, or Wednesday, Aug. 12, to finish cleaning up the school for the new year. Students are encouraged to participate and join in the fun!

Hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.
Pete Cotter, PASTA President
pcotter@kintgs.com

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS

OFFICE HOURS
The Raleigh Charter office will be closed until Aug. 4. On Aug. 4 and 5, the office will be open from 10:00 until 2:00. Regular office hours will resume on August 10.

SUMMER READING
Students need to check the Raleigh Charter website for summer reading assignments. There are assignments for English classes, AP History, AP Spanish, AP Physics, and AP Biology.

For students in AP U.S. History, please contact the office ASAP if you have not yet purchased your textbooks. See the article below for more information on summer history assignments.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Aug. 17, our first day of school, will be our School Orientation. It is not a typical school day, and students will not attend regular classes. However, all students are required to attend school for part of the day and to attend the appropriate sessions. Attendance will be taken by each student's advisor.

Please follow the schedule below and arrive during the assigned time. If you cannot arrive at the Orientation during the assigned time, please contact the school at 715-1155 to arrange an alternate time.

In addition to checking in with their advisors, students may need to attend orientation sessions for college counseling, athletics, or new students. Students will need to purchase Course Packs for some classes as well. Please see the letter that arrived with your schedule for additional information.

9:00–10:20 am: Last name begins with A-E
10:30–11:50 am: Last name begins with F-J
12:30–1:50 pm: Last name begins with K-P
2:00–3:20 pm: Last name begins with R-Z

WISH LISTS
Also, on the first day of school, teachers will have "sticky notes" placed on or near their doors with items that they "wish" to have for their classrooms for the coming school year. If your family would like to donate any of these supplies, please remove the note from the wall, and then return it with the item during the first week of classes. Thank you for your continuing support.

SECOND FRIDAY
The Second Friday of school, August 28, will be the annual Club and Sports Fair celebration and pizza party sponsored by PASTA. Although school is dismissed at 12:05, students are encouraged to stay until 2:40 to eat pizza ($1/slice), meet new and old friends, and check out the various student activities.

Please read the article in the "Can You Help?" section of this newsletter for donations and volunteers needed to make Second Friday a success.
Lisa Huddleston, Academic Dean
lhuddleston@raleighcharterhs.org

NEW BOOK SALE OPTIONS
In response to parent feedback, the book sale has been changed to offer families more options this year!

OPTION #1
Purchase books from Quail Ridge Bookstore, 3522 Wade Ave. (Ridgewood Shopping Center), Raleigh.

Visit the school website at:
https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/booksale/
and print the Quail Ridge book order form. Find the books that your student needs and mail or fax the order form, along with your credit card information, to the store. The staff will call you when your order is ready to be picked up.

Or, like last year, bring your student's class schedule to the store and wait while the staff collects the appropriate books for you to purchase.

Quail Ridge will donate up to 20% of the purchase price of the books to PASTA!

OPTION #2
Purchase books from any source you wish.

Visit the school website (link above) and print the Quail Ridge book order form. Use the book names and ISBN numbers on the form to order books from any vendor you wish — www.amazon.com  , www.borders.com  , etc.

FINANCIAL AID
If purchasing books presents a financial hardship to your family, please contact Dr. Humble or Ms. Huddleston at RCHS at 715-1155.

COURSE PACK SALE
The Course Pack and Workbook Sale will be held on Orientation Day, Aug. 17. Bring your class schedule to Room 310 to find out if your student needs to purchase any course packs or workbooks. At the sale you will also have the opportunity to join PASTA (Parent, Administrator, Student, Teacher Association) and order Entertainment Books. Payments may be made by check or cash.
Carol Doyle, Book Sale Coordinator
wetland@nc.rr.com 

TIME SHORT FOR CARPOOL SIGN-UP
Carpool lists have been distributed, and hopefully everyone is finding a group to share rides with. If you have not entered your information into the database, you still can. Go to:
https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/studentlife/carpool/
and enter your information BEFORE AUGUST 3. From Aug 4 to Aug 13, I will be away and unable to access the site. I will check again in mid-August to see if there are any last-minute additions. Thanks.
Cathy Hren, PASTA Carpool Coordinator
cphren@mindspring.com  or 460-1213

FUN FOR FRESHMEN
All incoming Raleigh Charter freshmen and their families are invited to an ice cream social at the home of A. Henderson (class of 2013) on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This will be a good chance to meet your fellow classmates before school starts on the 17th. Please bring a two-liter drink or a topping to share. Everything else will be provided.

Address: 8701 Old Tom Way, Raleigh (Wildwood Green Subdivision). If you need directions or have any questions, please call David or Sherri Henderson at the number below.
David Henderson, Freshman Parent
848-4600

SUMMER HISTORY HOMEWORK COMING DUE
Students taking Advanced Placement history classes next year need to remember to have their summer assignments completed and ready to turn in on the first day of class. You can follow the links on the school website: http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/faculty/history.asp
for the assignments or use the links on my website.

For students taking College Level Civics and Economics or AP Government, you can go here for the assignment:
http://home.att.net/~betsynewmark/SummerReadingAssignment2009.htm 

There was a mistake in the assignment when it was first posted this summer, so please make sure that you have the correct one. Also, some students might not have received the assignment before they left for the summer, but they are still responsible for paying attention to announcements and getting it done. You will probably need to order the book, so don't leave this to the last minute.

For students taking AP U.S. History, you can go here for the assignment:
http://home.att.net/~betsynewmark/SummerReadingAPUSH.htm
You should have purchased the textbook in the office before school got out. There are a few students who didn't do so and who will need to come in to school to get it.

(Note: Summer assignments for AP Biology, AP Physics B and C, all English classes, and AP Spanish are also posted on the RCHS website.)

Enjoy the rest of your summer and come back ready to hit the ground running in your history department classes!
Betsy Newmark, History Teacher
betsynewmark@gmail.com

UPDATE YOUR ONLINE DIRECTORY INFO
Raleigh Charter High School and PASTA encourage you to log in to the RCHS website to keep your directory information up to date. Using your username and password, you can login to:
http://www.raleighcharterhs.org
by choosing Login>Parent/Alumni Login (on the right, near the top of the homepage).
If you do not remember (or know) your password, enter your email address and click "I forgot my password" to receive an email with a new password and login instructions.

You can update your contact information by clicking on the "My Preferences" link (in the "My Links" box located in the upper righthand side of the home page).
This link is accessible only if you are logged in.

Please verify/correct your Profile information and then click on all five icons to make sure that all of your information is correct.
Make any changes, and then hit the Submit buttons to save your changes. If you have any concerns, send a description of your problem to:
logins@raleighcharterhs.org
Rick Shryock, PASTA VP-Technology
rshryock@nc.rr.com

SCIENCE COMPETITIONS
At Raleigh Charter High School we participate in five different science competitions: Science Bowl, Ocean Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, Brain Bee, and Envirothon. To communicate with each other for Ocean Science Bowl and Science Olympiad we establish a group email and will have a newsletter this year. Incoming freshmen or joining upperclassmen who want to have their emails added to the group email should send a message to me at the address below. We will have a couple of potential meetings for Ocean Science Bowl this summer, but these will become active at the start of school.

For interest in Science Bowl, contact me at the address below. For interest in Brain Bee, contact Ms. Koch at:
akoch@raleighcharterhs.org
She is out until Sept. 1, but she will be aware of your interest. For Envirothon, contact Ms. Cone at:
lcone@raleighcharterhs.org 
Whit Hames, Academic Dean
whames@raleighcharterhs.org 

GRADUATION VIDEOS ARE READY
Graduation videos are now available. If you pre-ordered and paid, you may pick up your copy from the school office beginning Aug. 4 (see office hours above).
Glenda Atkinson, College Counselor
gatkinson@raleighcharterhs.org

CAN YOU HELP?

WELCOME TEACHERS IN STYLE
PASTA will be hosting a Welcome Back Lunch for the teachers and staff on Aug. 10. This will be the first day back for staff and we want to let them know how happy we are to have each of them back with us. If you are able to make a donation to this effort, please email Pam Huck at the address below.

We are hoping to provide a nice variety of salads, along with bread, dessert, and drinks. Remember, school will not be in session for students. Once we hear from those able to help, we will email you specifics.
Pam Huck and Kathy Keller, PASTA Teacher Appreciation Co Chairs
pamhuck@nc.rr.com 

CLEAN UP, FIX UP, SHAPE UP
Back-to-school cleaning and fix-up days are:

Friday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We need as many PARENTS AND STUDENTS as possible to help get classrooms set up and cleaned, furniture moved, grounds in shape, etc.

Please email me at the address below with days and times you can help.
Mark Drummond, PASTA VP-Buildings and Grounds
mark@backyardplayground.net 

SECOND FRIDAY CELEBRATION
FRIDAY, AUG. 28, 12:05 – 2:40 p.m.

The tradition continues…

STUDENTS, you're invited to the Second Friday Celebration to kick off the beginning of another great year at RCHS. This year, we're beating the heat by starting the event at lunchtime. Enjoy pizza for only $1 a slice and cold drinks for free on the main courtyard grounds, while meeting new friends and learning about the many clubs and activities at RCHS. This celebration is hosted by PASTA.

PARENTS, only with your help will this event be a success!

STARTING Wednesday, Aug. 19
DRINK DONATIONS NEEDED
–Donate 12-packs of canned soda and/or bottled water (NO 2-liters or gallon jugs). We need at least 60 12-packs of drinks to ensure we have enough!
–Deliver to Room 306 by WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, AT THE LATEST
–No RSVP necessary for drinks. Just send them in to room 306 with your student.
–Please do not hesitate to send in your drink donation as early as Wednesday, August 19 … the sooner the better!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
COOLERS & Parent Volunteer Opportunities
–RSVP by MONDAY, AUG. 24.
–18 COOLERS HALF-FILLED WITH ICE
–We need volunteers to bring coolers already half-filled with ice to room 306 before school or between 10 and 11 a.m. We need 18 of these coolers. Please mark the coolers with your name and arrange to pick up after the event.

VOLUNTEER SHIFTS FOR EVENT
–Set-up in courtyard (10:45 – 11:45 a.m.) – 12 volunteers
–Serve pizza & drinks, take money (12:00 – 2:15 p.m.) – 17 volunteers
–Clean-up (2:00 – 3:00) – 10 volunteers

If you would like to volunteer to bring a cooler of ice and/or to sign up for a volunteer slot, please email or phone Penny Downey (address and number below). Please respond early! Thanks so much.
Penny Downey and Julie Lowe, 2nd Friday Coordinators
fpdowney@bellsouth.net  or 782-4467

LINK UP FOR FREE MONEY
Simple fundraising for our school — Update your customer cards for the new school year!

Several stores where you shop have school rewards programs that give money back directly to our school. Right now Harris Teeter, Target, Food Lion and Office Depot send us checks based on our shopping. We received over $2,800 during the last 12 months, but this total could be much higher. We need to continue these simple programs and link many more families with these participating stores.

It's easy. Click on the link below, which is part of the Raleigh Charter website:
https://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/simplefund.asp

Take out your customer cards and type in your information to participate. MOST REQUIRE US TO "RELINK" EACH YEAR to continue in the program, so update your information even if you have entered it before. If you link your customer cards after Aug. 1, you should be set for the school year. Ask extended family members to link their cards also!

We are always looking for new businesses with these programs. If you know of one, or if you have any questions, please email me.
Mary Lawrence Stroud, PASTA Simple Fundraising Chair
MLS211707@aol.com

FLEX DAYS COMING EARLY
Please mark your calendars now that our first Flex Days come early this year. We will need drivers on Sept. 18 and 25. There will be a morning session and an afternoon session on each of those days. Along with drivers, we will also be looking for a few walking chaperones for groups staying close to school.

More information about our Flex Days will be available during the first day of school, Aug. 17.
Judy McDevitt, Community Liaison
jmcdevitt@raleighcharterhs.org 

THE SPORTS PAGE

GEARING UP FOR FALL SPORTS

TRYOUTS START MONDAY
Tryouts begin on the following days for each team:

Cross Country: Monday, Aug. 3, 7:30-9:00 a.m., RCHS Patio
Coach Rakowski
m2j1r0@hotmail.com

Men's Soccer: Monday, Aug. 3, 5-7 p.m., Halifax Field
See Athletics Page for more Soccer info.
Coach Day
sday@raleighcharterhs.org 

Volleyball: Monday, Aug. 3 , 6:30-8:30 p.m., Halifax Community Center
Coach Badillo
eb8volleyball@yahoo.com

Women's Tennis: Monday, Aug. 3, 6-7:30 p.m., Peace College
Coach Phillips
michaelphillips@earthlink.net

Crew:
Unfortunately, we have had to discontinue crew as a sport at Raleigh Charter High School. For those students who have an interest in this sport, please contact
Coach Christine Shaffer
christineshaffer@hotmail.com
to learn more about independent rowing opportunities in our area. Thank you.

NEW MIX IN CONFERENCE
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association goes through a realignment process throughout the state for all member schools every four years. Beginning in Fall 2009, Raleigh Charter will be a member of the Carolina 9 1A/2A Conference in the NCHSAA. This conference consists of Durham School of Arts, N.C. School of Science and Mathematics, River Mill Academy, Granville Central, South Granville, Carrboro, Cedar Ridge, and Northwood High Schools. We look forward to competing against some familiar opponents and creating new friendly rivalries over the next four years in the Carolina 9.

ATHLETICS FEES
Athletics fees for the 2009-10 school year are as follows:
First sport: $150
Second/third sport: $110

If your family is in need of partial or complete financial assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Financial aid information will be kept confidential.
Steve Efird, Athletic Director
sefird@raleighcharterhs.org

LINKS OF INTEREST
RCHS website: http://www.raleighcharterhs.org 
PASTA website: http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta 
The Phoenix News: http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/news.asp 
PASTA Fund Raising: http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/pasta/fundraising.asp 
PASTA Alumni: http://www.rchspasta.org/alumni/alumni.php 
RCHS College Counseling Naviance: http://connection.naviance.com/fc/signin.php?hsid=raleighcharter 
The Flame: http://flame.raleighcharterhs.org 
Extracurricular opportunities: 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 an email to:
RaleighCharterHS-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com