June 29, 2009  

Dear Parents, Students and Friends:  

As the early days of the summer season wane, plans are well underway for the opening of the 2009-2010 school year. To assist your family in preparation for the coming semester, I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with information I believe you will find both relevant and helpful.

2009-2010 Orientation Packet: The Terra Linda High School Orientation Packet will be available in electronic form as of July 15, 2009.  As you download the packet, it may be necessary to disable your pop-up blocker. If you are unable to download the orientation packet successfully, a hard copy version is available at the Terra Linda High School administration office.

Included in the Orientation Packet are a number of forms that must be signed, completed and returned during our August 17, 2009 student orientation. Students must return these completed forms in order to receive their 2009-2010 course schedules (paperwork will not be accepted at an earlier date). Students and families will receive a separate letter detailing our August grade level orientation sessions.

In addition to completing the orientation packet, two items worthy of mention for the coming year are purchase of an Associated Student Body “Sticker” ($40.00 at our Student Store) and careful review of our newly updated Student Parent Handbook. The Handbook will be provided to all students at their scheduled orientation session (and will be available for review on our website). The ASB ‘Sticker” will provide all students discounted entrance to all home athletic contests and dances, a reduced fee for their yearbook and a number of other benefits.

2009-2010 “Monday” Bell Schedule: The opportunityfor educators to engage in regularly scheduled professional development opportunities is integral to the continued growth and achievement of a school. To best facilitate such opportunities, we have adjusted our Monday bell schedule to provide fourteen (14) hour-long planning sessions for faculty.

The 2009-2010 Monday bell schedule will be divided into a Monday #1 schedule (without a planning meeting) and a Monday #2 schedule (with a planning meeting). Please note the two schedules below:  

Monday #1                                                    Monday #2
                                                                        Planning Meeting         
1      8:00-8:50                                              1    9:05 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
2      8:55-9:45                                              2    9:50 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Brunch 9:45-10:00                                     Brunch: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.              
3     10:05-10:55                                          3    10:50 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
4     11:00-11:50                                          4    11:35 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Lunch 11:50-12:30                                     Lunch: 12:15 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.
5     12:35-1:25                                             5     1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
6     1:30-2:20                                               6     1:45 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
7     2:25-3:18                                               7     2:30 p.m.– 3:18 p.m.

As stated earlier, we have scheduled fourteen (14) professional development/planning workshops (Monday #2), for faculty during the 2009-2010 school year. The Monday #2 schedule will be implemented on the following dates:  

• September 14, 2009
• September 28, 2009
• October 12, 2009
• October 26, 2009
• November 9, 2009
• November 30, 2009
• December 7, 2009
• February 8, 2010
• March 1, 2010
• March 22, 2010
• April 5, 2010
• April 26, 2010
• May 10, 2010
• May 24, 2010 

All remaining “Mondays” will operate under the standard “Monday #1” schedule.

In addition to the Monday morning meeting program, we have two minimum daysscheduled during the month of September. Wednesday, September 2^nd and Wednesday, September 9^th Terra Linda High School will release at 1:05 p.m.

Completion of the Terra Linda High School Orientation Packet and the noting of our alternate or “Monday #2” dates are positive steps in the preparation of what we believe will be an outstanding 2009-2010 school year. Given all of our busy lives, I strongly suggest you note the “Monday #2” dates on your personal calendars. Please note that the Tuesday through Friday bell schedules will remain consistent and unchanged throughout the entire academic year.

The opening of the 2009-2010 school year is just a few short weeks away. As mentioned earlier, you will be receiving a letter detailing our August grade level orientation sessions. Happy summer and we look forward to seeing you at our August 17^th orientation and August 24th, the first day of school.  

Sincerely,  

Lars Christensen
Principal