Is your child getting the summer enrichment he or she needs to stay on track for the coming school year? The Learning Center! Charter School recommends  summer enrichment programs and activities that keep your student in touch with learning and enrichment experiences. The school encourages students to TAKE THE CHALLENGE: Reduce the amount of time he or she watches TV, movies, or plays with video games. Try keeping a record of how much–or better still–how little time your family is in front of a screen. OURSCHOOL MOTTO FOR THE SUMMER: MORE GREEN TIME, LESS SCREEN TIME. 

Recommended activities:

·       “The Great Adventures of Aladdin” Ms. Robbie’s Summer Performing Arts Camp (5-15yrs.) June 10-23Peacock PlayhouseCall 706-897-1041 for more information.

·       Wildlife & Outdoorsman: Safety Camp (10-13 years) July 8-11. Call Lisa Long at 828-835-4313, Tri-County Community College.

·       Reaching for the Cosmos STEM Camp: (Rising 6^th-8^th) July 8-11. Call Lisa Long at 828-835-4313, Tri-County Community College.

·       Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition C.R.E.E.K. (Rising 6^th-8^th) July 23, 2013. If your student is interested call The Learning Center! at 828-835-7240.

·       Middle Folk School:  (ages 7-17) Little/Middle Folk School offers an opportunity for youths to discover Appalachian culture and to take part in hands-on programs in dozens of arts and crafts. www.folkschool.org or call 828.837.2775.

The Learning Center! invites you to visit our website www.naturallygrownkids.org for announcements on our upcoming enrichment programs for the new school year in music education,Challenge Classes designed to challenge the gifted student, and STEM Education. Call us at at 828-835-7240.

Every year, the President’s Challenge presents three super-fit schools from each state with its exclusive State Champion Award.  State Champions are the schools with the highest percentage of students qualifying for the Presidential Physical Fitness Award—by earning scores in the 85th percentile or higher on the Physical Fitness Test—in the school’s enrollment category: Category 1: Schools with 50-200 students Category 2: Schools with 201-500 students Category 3: Schools with over 500 students

The winning school in each category receives a distinctive award certificate and recognition on the President’s Challenge website—for free! The students who help their school become a State Champion by earning the Presidential Physical Fitness Award receive an embroidered emblem and a certificate of recognition—both free! Winning schools are also eligible to order State Champion Award T-shirts.

The Learning Center! was awarded state champion in our category!

7th & 8th grade students recently built boats using recycled materials.  Not only did they learn valuable building skills but also about the importance of recycling.  I wish I would have been on hand to see the test runs in the river . . . for I heard that one boat didn’t survive.

As part of a semester long emphasis on basketry arts at The Learning Center! Charter School, sixth grade students were taught by local artist Jo Kilmer how to build a tree branch archway.  It now adorns the front of our school.

Students in 7th and 8th grades spent a week with Michael Davis, Executive Director of Special Projects and Co-Founder of The National Basketry Association, weaving gorgeous baskets.

The Learning Center! is committed to teaching students about the arts and is thankful for the generous support from the Jackie Ward Foundation For Academics & Arts in making such special events possible on our campus.

 

On Tuesday, May 7, 2013 morning students taste-tested strawberry wraps at breakfast.  Strawberries are the pick of the month for May, and these particular strawberries came to us through the North Carolina Farm to School program.  They were grown in the eastern part of the state.

Strawberries, besides being sweet and delicious, are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants.  They have significant amounts of the minerals potassium and manganese.  Like most fruits they are relatively low in calories and high in fiber.

Strawberries are grown on farms all over the state, and the strawberry harvest season begins in the coastal plain in April and moves west to the mountains as spring progresses.  Local farms usually harvest strawberries in mid-to-late May.  An interesting fact about North Carolina strawberries are that very few of them are shipped out of state.

Strawberries are best if eaten very soon after picking.  If you need to store them, they should be spread in a single layer in a covered container and kept in the refrigerator.  Do not wash or remove the “cap” until ready to prepare and eat them.

Taste Test Results

Liked-21

Ok-12

Not this time-11

Simple Strawberry Wrap Recipe

1 whole wheat tortilla

¼ cup cottage cheese (can substitute 1 ounce of cream cheese)

2-3 sliced strawberries

1 teaspoon sugar

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Spread the cottage cheese on the tortilla.  Place strawberry slices in middle of the tortilla.  Sprinkle on sugar and cinnamon.  Roll up, slice diagonally into 2 or 3 pieces if desired, serve.

On April 25, 2013 students and parents were treated to a delightful spring chorus concert courtesy of TLC’s kindergarten through fourth grade students.  The program featured children’s songs from around the world and included costumed singers.  If the sea of video cameras was any sign, the audience enjoyed it almost as much as the performers!

Middle school writers from across Cherokee County converged on The Learning Center! on Monday, May 20, 2013 for a special awards ceremony honoring winners of the Cherokee County Middle School Essay and Poetry Writing Contest.  Guest speaker, Diana Smith, was on hand to congratulate the young writers and share many of her poems.

The contest is sponsored by the Jackie Ward Foundation for Academics & Arts and held each spring in Cherokee County.  Congratulations young writers!