Jennifer Ketring

Passages and Community Leadership & Service

A Passage is a student-initiated course of learning and self-development that is completed as part of the Community Leadership & Service class. Students explore personal, professional and academic interest through a project which they plan, document and display when completed. Passages are a way for students to personalize their high school education. Students design and complete four Passages. Two are required (*) and two are chosen (students have the option to complete all six topics for additional credit).
1. Adventure: A quest – a personal and meaningful challenge, the pursuit of which requires courage, endurance, self reliance, and intelligent decision-making.

2. Career Exploration: A broad investigation of a field of employment, including an in-depth study of at least one job within that field, with particular attention to possibilities for the future.

3. Creativity: The development of a product that is an expression of one’s personal imagination, together with a detailed analysis of the process by which it was created.

4. Global Awareness/Volunteer Service*: The identification of an issue having global impact, followed by a study of how one’s own culture and at least one other culture deal with this issue, culminating in a service project designed to influence the issue on a local level.

5. Logical Inquiry*: An investigation that includes the generation of a hypothesis, the development of a systematic approach to data collection, and sufficient documentation to allow replication of the study.

6. Practical Skills: The development of proficiency in a skill or set of skills for which one was formerly dependent on others, and which has the potential for life-long usefulness.

Download the Community Leadership & Service Handbook

Jennifer Ketring

Character Education

While the development of each child’s individual potential is important to the
Pacific School, a sense of social responsibility and a reverence for all life is
equally modeled and encouraged. The school has implemented Wise Words as
school-wide character education curriculum which identifies and draws attention
to a valuable character trait each month. Themes include:

  • Positive attitude
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Self-Discipline
  • Relationships
  • Personal Goals
  • Citizenship
  • Conflict Resolution
Each monthly theme is incorporated into classroom activities,
an interactive bulletin board in the main hall, and semi-monthly all school
meetings.
Jennifer Ketring

Student Led Conferences

The student-led conferences encourage students to examine their learning
critically and monitor their progress toward the goals that they have set for
themselves. Students prepare their own conferences, in each class, reviewing
what they have accomplished, what work remains for them to complete and what
goals they have for the year. It is not a traditional parent conference – it is
a conference led by each student to show their parents the kinds of work they do
and also discuss their behavior at school. There are usually three or four
families in the classroom, with each student sharing what they have prepared to
show their parents. The teacher’s role is to support students if they get off
track, and to support parents if there are any questions.  
Jennifer Ketring

School History

The Pacific Community Charter School charter was
written by a group of committed parents who sought an educational alternative
for their children. The K-12 charter was approved by Arena Union Elementary
School District in March of 1999, and the school was granted its charter by the
State of California in April 1999.

The K-8 site opened in August of 1999,
with four classrooms. The initial enrollment was 77 students. In June of 2008,
the K-8 site graduated the first group of eighth graders to have completed all
elementary grades in the school. Of these twelve graduates, nine continued on to
the charter high school.

The PCCS High School opened in August of 2002
with 12 students, grades 9 and 10. In June 2006, the school graduated the first
class to complete all four years at the school. Of the five graduates, three
attended Stanford University, one attended Colorado College, and one left PCCHS
with an FAA pilot’s license. 
Jennifer Ketring

Family Participation

The Pacific Community Charter School is a K-12 school which offers an opportunity for families to engage in a vital learning community throughout the education of their student. We believe that education is a team effort. Optimum success is achieved when students, parents and teachers participate in the learning process. Family participation is a vital link to student success.

To ensure this success, PCCS requires a commitment from the families of enrolled students to support the operation of the school. This can be done in a myriad of ways, in and out of the classroom, and includes participation in PCCS Family Forums. The purpose of these Forums is to provide on-going parent education which supports the learning environment in the home, to provide a forum for parents to support the school and each other, and to showcase student work.

PCCS is a parent-invested school. Parents and teachers work closely together to make the most of our resources and educate our children. Parents serve on committees – from hiring to evaluations to fundraising – that make advisory recommendations to the Governance Council (GC). They volunteer in the classroom and the kitchen, help organize and drive on field trips. Currently, the GC membership is drawn entirely from the parent body.

Jennifer Ketring

Facility

The K-8 site is a converted residence at #10 Lake St. in Point Arena. It has
four classrooms, a commercial kitchen and an office space. The backyard is a
small but fun playground, with a climbing wall, basketball hoop, tether-ball and
an open area for soccer and other
games. 
Jennifer Ketring

Governance Council Meetings

Governance Council Meeting Agenda


Regular Meeting: Thursday, June 27 2024  @ 5:30 PM

Location: K8, 10 Lake Street
Virtual option available: https://viewsonlearning.zoom.us/j/84454924924.Passcode: 3XamzL


Call to Order

Open Session

Approval of Agenda
Open Comment Period (3 min each)
Correspondence

Reports

  • District Updates
  • Financial Update
    • DMS Monthly Financial Update
  • Staff Reports
    • K-8 Director & Teachers
    • High School Director & Teachers
    • Executive Director
  • GC Commissioners’/Committee Reports

Items for
Discussion/Decision

  • GC Minutes of June 12, 2024 Meeting. Action
  • 24.25 Budget. Discussion/Action
  • Local Control & Accountability Plan. Discussion/Action
  • Local Indicators. Discussion/Action
  • Executive Director Contract. Discussion/Action
  • Employee Handbook Update. Discussion/Action
  • Middle School Enrollment Cap. Discussion/Action
  • Interim High School Program Director Recommendation. Discussion/Action
  • Policy Updates. Discussion/Action

Closed Session

  • Pursuant to Brown Act Section 54957(b): Personnel. Contract Renewal.

Meeting Review/Items for
future agenda

TBD

Next Regular Meeting: Wednesday, August 14, 5:30 PM 

Governance Council Minutes (SY 23.24)

Governance Council Past School Year Minutes

Governance Council 2023 – 2024 

Jill Hunter, Chairperson | Sam Cole, Treasurer | Jessica Price, Secretary | Casie Smith | Cassie Henderson | Ellen Kibbe