FRIDAY FINALE Volume:5 Issue:1

Friday
Finale
September 5, 2014


YOUNG SCHOLARS OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CHARTER SCHOOL LEVENT KAYA CEO-CAO
Changes in the New Academic
Year
We have begun a new academic
school year with many changes. We
have added a second grade and a fourth
grade as part of our continuous
enrollment growth from lower grades.
Ashley Smithyman took over the 2
nd

grade that was added and became
another teaching assistant taking over a
full time teaching position. We have
welcomed Angela Lavrinc for the new
added 4
th
grade class who brought 3
years of experience. We have also
welcomed two Chinese teachers Ge
Gong and Yao Xiong. They are
promising young teachers who are very
well educated and very enthusiastic.
All of our teachers are full time this
year! Our enrollment increased to 307
(as of today) from 266. Despite the
growth in enrollment, our financial
situation did not grow proportionally
due to changes in legislation. As a result
we do not have as many teacher
assistants as before. We will contract a
psychologist/guidance counselor on a
part time basis.
Due to rightful concerns about lunch
and recess supervision last year we have
arranged teacher schedules so that we
have more coverage in lunch and recess.
Although this meant more work for
teachers, there is no debate that we
have improved on security and safety of
the students.
Another change (which I am still
struggling with) is the day schedule. We
have Day 1, Day 2.. instead of Monday,
Tuesday.. I will announce the results of
the analysis that we are doing on the
virtues of this schedule change as I can
list the downsides easily. We will have a
modified two hour delay schedule as
opposed to what we have been before.
Advisories in the middle school have
changed. We have Abby, Dustin, Leigha,
Nate, and Turan as advisors for a little
over 40 students. The attention that
each middle school student need would
be better provided with this smaller
group arrangement.
Our homerooms start at 8.20AM
instead of 8.30AM. Our goal is to reduce
tardiness and eliminate loss of
instruction time.
Ammar and Nate are able to give
about 20 hours total per week to our
library which is a great opportunity to
improve this service.
4
th
grade classes moved up to 2
nd
floor
pushing learning support room to our
administrative wing.
Our morning announcements are
delightful new addition for this exciting
school year!
.Whooo is this person?
1. Where is your favorite place to
go out to eat in State College?
Panera Bread
2. What is your favorite sport?
I don't really watch sports, but I
love to run.
3. What is your favorite song?
Let It Be by the Beatles
4. What is your favorite hobby?
Painting, Gardening, Exercise
5. Something I'd like to learn.
How to play the guitar
6. What is your favorite superhero
and why?
My favorite super hero is
Captain America because he
became a super hero to help
others and always wants to do
the right thing.
7. What do you want to become
when you were a child?
I wanted to become either a
pediatrician or a Peace Corps
volunteer.


What we are working on

FRIDAY FINALE Volume:5 Issue:1

What Happened This week?
9.1 Labor Day No School
9.2 Back to School Music Night
9.2-5 STAR Test
9.3 Patience Harris (K) Enrolled
9.3 First Day of Extended Day Fall Semester
9.3-4 Yao Observed Classes
9.4 Nate Smith (6) and Samantha Smith (2) Enrolled
What is Coming up?
9.9 PAC Meeting
9.10-11 Ge will Observe Classes
9.11 Back to School Night (Middle School) 7PM - 8.30PM
9.18 Back to School Night (Elementary School) 7PM - 8.30PM
9.23 1
st
Grade Field Trip - Shavers Creek (9.20AM-1.30PM)
9.25 5
th
Grade Field Trip - Philadelphia (7AM-10PM)
9.26 In-Service No School
9.29 Kindergarten Field Trip- Way Fruit Farm (10AM-12.30PM)
YSCP Dashboard
(as of 9.6.2013)
Total Enrollment 307
Total Capacity 340
Room for Enrollment 33
Grades and Number of Available Seats
K 6
1 3
2 7
3 2
4 0
5 0
6 4
7 9
8 2
Total Staff FTE (Including Contracted Staff) 44.6
Student to Staff Ratio 6.88

FRIDAY FINALE | Issue 1 3




Ms. OKanes Best Practice:
As an adult that has a very difficult time sitting still and
working at a desk, I find having flexibility in where you
let students sit vital. I have created two comfortable
reading areas in my classroom, but I also have purchased
lap trays, clipboards, pillows, beach towels, blankets,
large rugs, and mini so the students can work (or read)
anywhere in the room they want. One student wrote me
a note after the first day of school and told me that she
was excited to get to work because she now has so many
comfortable options instead of "just a stinky desk".