Fusion Learning Center News for December 2006 / January 2007...

Final Exams Are Right Around the Corner

Most public and private schools hold their final exams around the end of January.  Don’t delay in getting the tutoring you need for your finals! Most teachers have openings to accommodate the high volume of tutoring appointments requested during this time. If you feel that extra tutorial sessions might be needed for finals, phone the front desk and schedule those appointments soon. Scheduling is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. 

And don’t forget, certain teachers ARE available during the holiday break to help you get a jumpstart on those finals or to get ahead in a class. There is also weekend assistance available, so don’t wait. . . we’re ready for you!

Your favorite Homework Café teacher is back in the Homework Café (HC) after a two-year break! Nicholas is available for homework help Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to help you. Not only will you get all your homework complete, you’ll have a darn good time doing it! No appointment is needed for the HC, so just swing on by, bring your books, maybe a snack or dinner, and get the assistance you need from Niko!

Karina Gillick wants to remind all students who are enrolling for the SATs in 2007 to have their disability documentation complete two months prior to the actual SAT date. If you are seeking accommodations on the SAT—like extended time or a reader—it is imperative to submit the paperwork in a timely fashion.  If you wait too long, you won’t get your requests. For more info on the SATs or extended time, contact Karina at Fusion. 

Fusion’s Music department has some rare openings! Fusion offers lessons or classes for credit in most instruments including guitar, bass, drums, and recording arts. Call the front desk today to get more info.

Fusion welcomes Erik Hinojosa to our growing family of teachers! Erik graduated in 2003 from UCSD with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Economics. He has a minor in Latin American Studies. Currently, he is available to teach and tutor all math levels, Spanish, and certain science courses. He is also fluent in American Sign Language, and is available to tutor and teach ASL. Erik’s dynamic personality is a welcome addition to the Fusion family! 

Fusion is now offering Japanese as a class for credit. Feel free to call and get more information if you are interested in taking Japanese to meet your language requirement. Fusion teachers have also been very busy writing curriculums for new classes, so be on the lookout for American Sign Language (ASL), Astronomy, and Psychology to be offered very soon! 

Fusion Academy News for December 2006 / January 2007...

We encourage all parents of our full-time students to be an active part of the Parent Advisory Group Meeting on January 25, 2007, at 7 p.m. at Fusion. This meeting gives parents the opportunity to meet each other, discuss important “goings on” at Fusion, and have a voice in the development of our innovative school.

IROC week was held the week of December 11, 2006. All full-time parents should expect progress reports prior to the new year. Remember to talk to your kids about their goals: Their self-evaluations are an integral part of the IROC system.

What a wonderful fundraiser! Thanks go out to the Fusion Band for performing and doing a bang-up job!  (Shout out to Noah Gilman on drums, Aimee Jacobs on vocals, and Eric Roberts on sax!)

Thanks also to all the Fusion families and staff who came out to show their support of Christina Wolfe, who was critically injured in a near-fatal car accident back in September. The event raised over $11,000 toward her recovery expenses.

As for Christina herself, she is staying strong and making great strides in her recovery. She is moving both legs, and beginning to attempt to stand up with the aid of her physical therapists! They expect that our girl will be walking with braces sometime next year. Her spirits are incredibly upbeat, and her stamina is to be admired. Way to go, Christina, and way to go, Fusion, for supporting her through your continued outpouring of love and dedication!

Thanks to full-time parents Joanne Wornham and Julia Durkin for creating the Ornament Program for Christina! Fusion collected a boxful of ornaments that were delivered to her family last weekend. The Wolfe family is incredibly grateful for all your support and love!

Fusion’s Art department is getting ready to showcase the wonderful student art being created within our school. Stay tuned for a great art event featuring the Fusion Band and our wonderful Art students who have been hard at work creating masterpieces.

The Art department made and sold grilled cheese sandwiches to raise money toward their goal of purchasing an airbrush gun in December. Keep those yummy sandwiches coming!

Be on the lookout for the Fusion calendar as a permanent icon on the website. The calendar will help all of us keep track of the goings-on at Fusion.

On November 12, Fusion students and teachers visited Jewish Family Services. When they arrived, they each received handfuls of bags and were instructed to bag the piles of donated food from grocery stores. They filled each bag with fruit, vegetables, gravy, and desserts. When they were all finished, there must have been a good 200 bags of food! It made them feel good to know that the food was going to families who couldn’t afford to have a nice Thanksgiving meal. What a great gift, Fusion students—good job!—and thanks to staff members Janelle Pieros and Shannon Harrington for orchestrating this community-service event!

Please remember to be timely in picking up your students from the Homework Café when they are done for the day. We understand that our students love to be at Fusion, but far too many of them “just hanging out” after their work is complete. This creates a liability for both your child and Fusion, and creates unnecessary distraction to the other students attempting to get their work done. Prompt pick-up is required and, effective January 1, students will begin to incur after-school HC charges if not picked up within 30 minutes after their work is complete for the day. If your child drives, please be sure to instruct them that they are to leave campus once they have completed their schoolday. Thank you for your cooperation!

This issue’s student of the month is Melissa Rubio. Previously, Melissa attended middle school in Tijuana, Mexico, and is now a freshman at Fusion. Melissa has excelled academically and has added to the diversity of Fusion’s varied population. Melissa says that she loves the personal touch of Fusion and the easy access that she has to her teachers. We are happy to have you with us, Melissa, and keep up the good work!

Fusion Learning Center News

February & March 2007

Fusion is always offering our Mock SAT tests. The Mock SAT is a great way to gain familiarity with the actual test, receive written feedback, and know if some additional assistance is needed with preparation.

Fusion has plans to launch a revolving eight-week outpatient substance-abuse program. This program will be available to the entire community, headed by Season Hewitt, Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor. We anticipate acquiring additional space to house this beneficial new program. Stay tuned for more details!

Shannon Harrington made a major decision in January to move to Turkey to start a new chapter in her life. We are happy to report she arrived safely, and is enjoying her new surroundings. Although we miss her greatly, we're pleased that she followed her dream. She plans on returning for a visit sometime this spring. Good luck, Shannon!

Veronica Baez has also decided to leave us to return to school and obtain an advanced degree in Math. We wish her the best of luck as she pursues this endeavor. We'll miss you, Vero!

Fusion welcomes three incredible new staffmembers this month, and we are incredibly grateful for the talent within our circle. We continue to attract the most creative, passionate, and educated teachers in our industry! Take a look:

Jeremiah Couch arrives with a single-subject teaching credential in Social Studies and a Masters in Education from National University. He also holds both AA and BA degrees in History; taught in a Department of Defense high school in Wurzburg, Germany; and has supervised a "6-to-6" program in the Spring Valley School District.

Shannon Devine joins us with a BA in Political Science and Spanish, and a minor in History, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also has previous tutoring experience, and has served as a soccer and baseball coach.

Season Hewitt has seven years' experience as an Adoelescent Intensive Outpatient Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (certified through the Board of Alcohol & Drug Counseling) at the Scripps McDonald Center. Additionally, Season holds certifications in Anger Management and Adolescent Anger Management. She graduated with honors from San Diego City College's Alcohol & Other Drug Studies program. And, she's bilingual in English/Spanish.

Fusion Academy News for February/March 2007

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is once again visiting our school. The committee arrives on March 25th, and they have requested a meeting with our parent body on that date at 3 p.m. We ask that all of our parents come to that meeting to greet the committee and to assist us in obtaining our accreditation.

Parents, we cannot do this without you! Please put the date and time into your calendars—it's only one hours, and your words to WASC will last a lifetime. We humbly request that you support Fusion Academy as we attempt to become a part of the esteemed group of schools accredited by this powerful organization.

A creative explosion is happening on Saturday, April 21st 2007, at 5 p.m.: Fusion Academy's first Annual Showcase of the Arts! Entitled "Put Your Lights On," the showcase will encompass student art pieces, music by Fusion's Music department (including musical works by our students), and a poetry/rap slam (guided by Bailee Chandler, English teacher extraordinaire). The highlight of the evening will be the Text Art exhibit, with contributions from both students and faculty, prompted by the question "What would you like to say to the Universe?"

Particular pieces of note: Jack Schreiber's intricately detailed sculpture of a woodland house . . . Dan Martinez' pen-and-ink entitled "Coltrane" . . . Graham Bishop's lighted sculpture of glass, feathers, metal, and clay, called "Random" . . . Melissa Rubio's amazing work-in-progress . . .

Please plan to attend—you may even see a side of your child you never knew existed!

A special thank you goes to Eric Roberts from Mary Easton, Art Program Director, for the space and furnishings template for the Art room. What an incredible help!

We'll send out reminders for this special event soon, so be on the lookout for them.

Special Request: The Art department is humbly requesting an airbrush gun and a digital camera for student use. Donations toward their purchase (or of the actual items!) would be much appreciated. Please contact Mary Easton, Art Program Director, for more information, and THANK YOU in advance!

Fusion's first Friday Fun Day is here! Nicholas Angelo is organizing this new program, and kicking it off on March 2nd with a trip to Sea World. The cost is just $28 (we got a great school discount!), and all interested students should see Nicholas for a permission slip.

Upcoming Friday Fun Days include trips to the K-1 Speedway and the Wild Animal Park. We're also taking suggestions for subsequent Fun Days. Please contact Nicholas with your suggestions and/or comments.

Janelle Pieros, Language Department head, and Veronica Saydak, English Department head, are planning a field trip to Chicano Park in San Diego. For English classes, the trip corresponds to the study of Mexican-American literature, and for Spanish classes, it satisfies the cultural experience requirement. Please contact Janelle or Veronica for details.

Brian Peterson, Science Department head, along with Janelle, is planning a field trip to the Museum of Man in Balboa Park for science students. For more info, please get in touch with Brian or Janelle.

IROC Week is in full swing! Be on the lookout for your child's progress report, grades, self-evaluation, and updated goals. Also, we'll be sending a transcript summary with this IROC report. Please feel free to call Michelle Gilman or Joseph Malki if you'd like to discuss your child's IROC and goals.

And, please talk to your child about his or her self-evaluation. This really is an excellent time to casually bring up progress and how he or she feels about personal experiences at school. Keep in mind, though, that students' self-evaluations are just that: SELF-evaluations. Try not to be judgmental, as that can skew your child's unique and individual introspection.

Astronomy: If you've ever wondered why Saturn has rings, what a galaxy looks like through a telescope, or what the heck "dark matter" is, then our new Astronomy course is for you! We're now offering semester and full-year courses in the subject. The course involves daytime and nighttime labs utilizing our new six-inch Newtonian reflector telescope and solar-filtered binoculars. It also has an astrophotography component. Way to go, Kate Brutlag, for writing an incredible curriculum for this new course! For more information, contact Kate or an administrator.

Japanese: Fusion has begun offering Japanese classes. The courses focus on not only the language, but also the culture, of the Land of the Rising Sun, including the study of Japanese festivals such as Setsubun and Tanabata, extensive study in all three Japanese alphabets, and weekly dialogues designed to give students a command of everyday Japanese. Again, contact Kate Brutlag for more info.

Woodshop: We're now offering Woodshop as an elective class. Woodshop is held off campus on Fridays, by scheduled appointment only. The class typically runs in three- to four-hour blocks. And, if anyone has a lathe they would like to donate, please let Nicholas Angelo know!

Psychology: Another new course we're very proud to add to our list of classes for credit is Psychology. Many thanks to Greg Pitman and Lindsey Free for writing this curriculum.

If your child is interested in enrolling in any of these stellar new classes, please contact the school administration.

Community Service: All Fusion Academy students looking for community service hours (that's all of you kids in Health and Life Skills classes!) should contact Kate Brutlag regarding a Friday trip to serve food to the homeless at Father Joe's Villages. You can visit their website for more information at fatherjoesvillages.org.

The new Fusion Academy United Nations group is forming to give students the opportunity to learn about international issues, building unity, and using their voices to help aid those in need.

Our UN group will allow our students to connect with other students around the world, and will help them gain valuable experience in leadership and service positions.

The student-run group will meet once a month to participate in several programs established by the national network of UN student alliances. One of the programs includes a "Model UN" conference, where different UN groups travel to a site to hold a mock conference and represent the interests of a particular country. Other programs such as HERO and Adopt-a-Minefield give students the chance to help raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS in impoverished areas and the dangers of landmines that remain after civil wars.

For more information, contact Jason Saltmarsh, who is leading the charge for the Fusion UN.

Wednesdays' hot lunch has been switched from Round Table Pizza to Solana Beach Coffee Company. Students can now get grilled cheese sandwiches, a side snack, and a drink for $5. Please remember to send lunch money with your child on Wednesdays, as the schoolwide student meeting is held during their lunchtime, and students are unable to leave campus to get lunch.

Christina has made tremendous progress, and we are so very proud of her! She is currently at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey, California, continuing her recovering from a devastating car crash in September 2006.

She is walking with the aid of a walker and leg braces, and is working diligently to regain the strength in her arms and legs. She plans to relocate back to San Diego upon discharge from the rehab center in mid-March, and to live independently. What a remarkable feat!

Please continue to send your cards and letters to her directly or through Fusion—she really loves hearing from everyone!

Alex Schleyhahn is the student of the month for this issue of the Fusion News! Alex's enthusiastic attitude and warm personality have positively influenced both students and staff. Alex's teachers report that he is very committed to his schoolwork, and puts in tremendous effort. His caring personality has added to Fusion's compassionate and tolerant environment.

Alex, thank you for all you bring to Fusion, and keep up the great work!

Fusion Learning Center News

February & March 2007

Fusion is always offering our Mock SAT tests. The Mock SAT is a great way to gain familiarity with the actual test, receive written feedback, and know if some additional assistance is needed with preparation.

Fusion has plans to launch a revolving eight-week outpatient substance-abuse program. This program will be available to the entire community, headed by Season Hewitt, Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor. We anticipate acquiring additional space to house this beneficial new program. Stay tuned for more details!

Shannon Harrington made a major decision in January to move to Turkey to start a new chapter in her life. We are happy to report she arrived safely, and is enjoying her new surroundings. Although we miss her greatly, we're pleased that she followed her dream. She plans on returning for a visit sometime this spring. Good luck, Shannon!

Veronica Baez has also decided to leave us to return to school and obtain an advanced degree in Math. We wish her the best of luck as she pursues this endeavor. We'll miss you, Vero!

Fusion welcomes three incredible new staffmembers this month, and we are incredibly grateful for the talent within our circle. We continue to attract the most creative, passionate, and educated teachers in our industry! Take a look:

Jeremiah Couch arrives with a single-subject teaching credential in Social Studies and a Masters in Education from National University. He also holds both AA and BA degrees in History; taught in a Department of Defense high school in Wurzburg, Germany; and has supervised a "6-to-6" program in the Spring Valley School District.

Shannon Devine joins us with a BA in Political Science and Spanish, and a minor in History, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also has previous tutoring experience, and has served as a soccer and baseball coach.

Season Hewitt has seven years' experience as an Adoelescent Intensive Outpatient Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (certified through the Board of Alcohol & Drug Counseling) at the Scripps McDonald Center. Additionally, Season holds certifications in Anger Management and Adolescent Anger Management. She graduated with honors from San Diego City College's Alcohol & Other Drug Studies program. And, she's bilingual in English/Spanish.

Fusion Academy News for February/March 2007

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is once again visiting our school. The committee arrives on March 25th, and they have requested a meeting with our parent body on that date at 3 p.m. We ask that all of our parents come to that meeting to greet the committee and to assist us in obtaining our accreditation.

Parents, we cannot do this without you! Please put the date and time into your calendars—it's only one hours, and your words to WASC will last a lifetime. We humbly request that you support Fusion Academy as we attempt to become a part of the esteemed group of schools accredited by this powerful organization.

A creative explosion is happening on Saturday, April 21st 2007, at 5 p.m.: Fusion Academy's first Annual Showcase of the Arts! Entitled "Put Your Lights On," the showcase will encompass student art pieces, music by Fusion's Music department (including musical works by our students), and a poetry/rap slam (guided by Bailee Chandler, English teacher extraordinaire). The highlight of the evening will be the Text Art exhibit, with contributions from both students and faculty, prompted by the question "What would you like to say to the Universe?"

Particular pieces of note: Jack Schreiber's intricately detailed sculpture of a woodland house . . . Dan Martinez' pen-and-ink entitled "Coltrane" . . . Graham Bishop's lighted sculpture of glass, feathers, metal, and clay, called "Random" . . . Melissa Rubio's amazing work-in-progress . . .

Please plan to attend—you may even see a side of your child you never knew existed!

A special thank you goes to Eric Roberts from Mary Easton, Art Program Director, for the space and furnishings template for the Art room. What an incredible help!

We'll send out reminders for this special event soon, so be on the lookout for them.

Special Request: The Art department is humbly requesting an airbrush gun and a digital camera for student use. Donations toward their purchase (or of the actual items!) would be much appreciated. Please contact Mary Easton, Art Program Director, for more information, and THANK YOU in advance!

Fusion's first Friday Fun Day is here! Nicholas Angelo is organizing this new program, and kicking it off on March 2nd with a trip to Sea World. The cost is just $28 (we got a great school discount!), and all interested students should see Nicholas for a permission slip.

Upcoming Friday Fun Days include trips to the K-1 Speedway and the Wild Animal Park. We're also taking suggestions for subsequent Fun Days. Please contact Nicholas with your suggestions and/or comments.

Janelle Pieros, Language Department head, and Veronica Saydak, English Department head, are planning a field trip to Chicano Park in San Diego. For English classes, the trip corresponds to the study of Mexican-American literature, and for Spanish classes, it satisfies the cultural experience requirement. Please contact Janelle or Veronica for details.

Brian Peterson, Science Department head, along with Janelle, is planning a field trip to the Museum of Man in Balboa Park for science students. For more info, please get in touch with Brian or Janelle.

IROC Week is in full swing! Be on the lookout for your child's progress report, grades, self-evaluation, and updated goals. Also, we'll be sending a transcript summary with this IROC report. Please feel free to call Michelle Gilman or Joseph Malki if you'd like to discuss your child's IROC and goals.

And, please talk to your child about his or her self-evaluation. This really is an excellent time to casually bring up progress and how he or she feels about personal experiences at school. Keep in mind, though, that students' self-evaluations are just that: SELF-evaluations. Try not to be judgmental, as that can skew your child's unique and individual introspection.

Astronomy: If you've ever wondered why Saturn has rings, what a galaxy looks like through a telescope, or what the heck "dark matter" is, then our new Astronomy course is for you! We're now offering semester and full-year courses in the subject. The course involves daytime and nighttime labs utilizing our new six-inch Newtonian reflector telescope and solar-filtered binoculars. It also has an astrophotography component. Way to go, Kate Brutlag, for writing an incredible curriculum for this new course! For more information, contact Kate or an administrator.

Japanese: Fusion has begun offering Japanese classes. The courses focus on not only the language, but also the culture, of the Land of the Rising Sun, including the study of Japanese festivals such as Setsubun and Tanabata, extensive study in all three Japanese alphabets, and weekly dialogues designed to give students a command of everyday Japanese. Again, contact Kate Brutlag for more info.

Woodshop: We're now offering Woodshop as an elective class. Woodshop is held off campus on Fridays, by scheduled appointment only. The class typically runs in three- to four-hour blocks. And, if anyone has a lathe they would like to donate, please let Nicholas Angelo know!

Psychology: Another new course we're very proud to add to our list of classes for credit is Psychology. Many thanks to Greg Pitman and Lindsey Free for writing this curriculum.

If your child is interested in enrolling in any of these stellar new classes, please contact the school administration.

Community Service: All Fusion Academy students looking for community service hours (that's all of you kids in Health and Life Skills classes!) should contact Kate Brutlag regarding a Friday trip to serve food to the homeless at Father Joe's Villages. You can visit their website for more information at fatherjoesvillages.org.

The new Fusion Academy United Nations group is forming to give students the opportunity to learn about international issues, building unity, and using their voices to help aid those in need.

Our UN group will allow our students to connect with other students around the world, and will help them gain valuable experience in leadership and service positions.

The student-run group will meet once a month to participate in several programs established by the national network of UN student alliances. One of the programs includes a "Model UN" conference, where different UN groups travel to a site to hold a mock conference and represent the interests of a particular country. Other programs such as HERO and Adopt-a-Minefield give students the chance to help raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS in impoverished areas and the dangers of landmines that remain after civil wars.

For more information, contact Jason Saltmarsh, who is leading the charge for the Fusion UN.

Wednesdays' hot lunch has been switched from Round Table Pizza to Solana Beach Coffee Company. Students can now get grilled cheese sandwiches, a side snack, and a drink for $5. Please remember to send lunch money with your child on Wednesdays, as the schoolwide student meeting is held during their lunchtime, and students are unable to leave campus to get lunch.

Christina has made tremendous progress, and we are so very proud of her! She is currently at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey, California, continuing her recovering from a devastating car crash in September 2006.

She is walking with the aid of a walker and leg braces, and is working diligently to regain the strength in her arms and legs. She plans to relocate back to San Diego upon discharge from the rehab center in mid-March, and to live independently. What a remarkable feat!

Please continue to send your cards and letters to her directly or through Fusion—she really loves hearing from everyone!

Alex Schleyhahn is the student of the month for this issue of the Fusion News! Alex's enthusiastic attitude and warm personality have positively influenced both students and staff. Alex's teachers report that he is very committed to his schoolwork, and puts in tremendous effort. His caring personality has added to Fusion's compassionate and tolerant environment.

Alex, thank you for all you bring to Fusion, and keep up the great work!

Fusion Academy News for May/June 2007

We proudly announce the names of our 2007 graduating class! They are simply amazing!

Jake Blok • Curran Boyd • Paul Clausen

Joseph Farmer • Alena Goodman •  Alyssa Gosselin 

Taylor Groff • Aimee Jacobs  • James Marren

Kent Nishio • Alice Norris • Loni Olsher

Yanick Rieffel  • Tamara Sharif

Graduation is Friday, June 1st. Graduation practice date will be determined the week of May 21st. All families of graduates are invited to the graduation ceremony, to be held at Morgan Run in Rancho Santa Fe. You should already have received your invitations, and graduates' caps and gowns will arrive by the week of May 21st.

If you have any questions about graduation, please contact Sarah Easton.

We probably don't need to remind you, but the last day of school at Fusion Academy for the 2006-07 school year is Wednesday, June 13th.

Our summer school program begins on Monday, June 18th, and all students joining us for the summer will receive their summer schedules by mail shortly.

The week of May 7th was IROC Week. Be on the lookout for your child's progress report, grades, self-evaluation, and updated goals. Transcripts will be sent at the end of this school year, and not in this IROC report. Please contact Michelle Gilman or Joseph Malki if you'd like to discuss your child's IROC and goals.

And, please discuss your child's self-evaluation with him or her. This is an excellent opportunity to bring up progress and how he or she feels about personal experiences at school. Keep in mind, though, that students' self-evaluations are just that: SELF-evaluations. Try not to be judgmental, as that can skew your child's unique and individual introspection.

All full-time students' parents are required to make an appointment with Joseph Malki and Michelle Gilman for the week of June 25th-July 2nd.

During this very important meeting, we will discuss the fall 2007 semester, and what classes your child needs to satisfy graduation requirements. You will also select fall classes for your child at this time. Please schedule your appointment ASAP by contacting Sarah Easton at the front desk.

A creative explosion is happening on Saturday, June 2nd, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Fusion Academy's first Annual Showcase of the Arts!

The "Are You Listening?" showcase will feature student art pieces, musical works, and poetry. The centerpiece of the extravaganza will be the Text Art exhibit, comprised of both student and faculty work and prompted by the question, "What would you like to say to the Universe?" Many thanks to Mary Piazza Easton, Art Program Director, for initiating this event and your endless dedication to promoting the arts!

The poetry/rap slam portion of the event, guided by teacher Bailee Chandler, will be a live reading of short, original pieces by nine students from 8th-12th grade. These works represent what the students feel best illustrates who they are and what they want the world to know about them.

Last, but certainly not least, Fusion Band will celebrate the release of its annual CD at the exhibit. A diverse group of student musicians worked hard with Music Program Director Nicholas Angelo and music teacher Bobby Neal the entire school year to create it. Students from the Digital Graphics and Art classes collaborated to design the visual portions of the CD. You can show your support of our incredible students and their talents by purchasing a copy of the CD at the exhibit for just $5.

The Fusion Family Friday Fun Day (parents are invited!) will be Friday, June 8th. A softball game is the activity, and teams will consist of students, parents, and faculty. The event is being held in Cardiff, on Lake Drive at the baseball fields. Meet at Fusion at 9:30 a.m., and the game will start promptly at 10 o' clock.Teams will be selected at the field on game day.

We need a good turnout--at least 18 players--to make this work, so please plan to participate! For more info or to sign up, please call or email Nicholas Angelo right away.

If you need a lift from Fusion to the game, please let Nicholas know so he can reserve a seat for you in the Fusion van.

Also, please bring a mitt if you have one, as Fusion only has nine (one left-handed).

Kate Brutlag will tackle the positions of Foreign Language department head AND Test Preparation department head. She takes over these responsibilities from Janelle Pieros, who is leaving us at the end of the school year to go to med school.

About her new position, Kate says:

"As a lover of foreign languages and a compulsive standardized test-taker, I hope to bring new insight and experience to the Foreign Language and Test Preparation departments at Fusion. In the foreign languages area, I plan to continue Janelle's excellent work by increasing the number of languages taught at Fusion, and by showcasing the cultural studies of our students through a yearly multicultural event.

Also, as the new Test Prep department head, I hope to bring my prior experience as an SAT, CAT, and MCAT tutor to our students. I also plan to draw on my personal experience, having taken eight standardized tests between high school and college! My goals include improving Fusion's tracking of student scores and building up the ACT side of our program.

I welcome communication from both parents and students, and look forward to working with you all!"

At last, thanks to teacher Erik Hinojosa, Fusion is offering American Sign Language (ASL) for credit, beginning this summer. ASL1 is being offered first, to be followed by ASL2 in the fall. Erik says about this course:

"I'm very excited to bring ASL to Fusion Academy this year, which will launch during the summer program. ASL isn't just a collection of hand movements and gestures, but rather a complex language with a rich culture. While attending UCSD, I was fortunate to room with a deaf student. This experience allowed me to witness the deaf culture firsthand, and learn ASL from a 'native speaker.' It always felt like I was studying abroad without having to go anywhere! I furthered my interest in ASL by taking courses in it at UCSD and, as you can imagine, my roommate with a great help. I look forward to teaching this course to our students, and sharing its amazing culture with our Fusion community."

Fusion's first outdoor astronomy lab was a great success! With our new eight-inch telescope, wide-angle binoculars, and star wheels constructed by student Graham Bishop in hand, we headed out to Lake Hodges under darkened skies on May 8th.

Students delighted in sightings of Venus, Saturn, and some late spring constellations. Though haze obscured other planned sights (including the Orion nebula and the binary star system Alberio), the next outdoor astronomy lab should be even more exciting, as the Milky Way and summer triangle rise higher in the skies over the course of the summer.

Also, if you have access to any dark, flat areas with unobstructed horizons, or have any questions regarding the astronomy labs themselves, please email Astronomy course instructor Kate Brutlag.

We hosted WASC again in late March, and we believe we came through with flying colors! We haven't received our official letter of notification yet, but we are confident that Fusion shined like a star.

Many thanks go out to Fusion moms Julia Durkin and Joanne Wornham for leading our Parent Advisory Group and for organizing great parent events!

In particular, thank you very much for Teacher Appreciation Day and the excellent turnout for the WASC parent meeting!

We are honored to have volunteer Parent Coordinators who are so incredibly dedicated, and many thanks to ALL Fusion parents who participated in the events this past year.

Fusion parents rock!

Are there any parents in the biotech field who might be able to help us acquire more lab equipment and materials to enhance our science lab? If you have anything to donate, or can assist us in obtaining things we need, please contact Brian Peterson, Science Department head. Thank you!

Erin Tonkon is student of the month! Erin elected to write her own entry into this issue of the newsletter, instead of us writing about her:

"Fusion has given me the opportunity to pursue my passion for music while continuing with a rigorous academic course load. The teachers and students here provide overwheming support on my path to success, and the progress I have made in terms of self-acceptance, personal well-being, and finding the courage to strive for only the best has truly skyrocketed in the months I have been a part of the Fusion family.

I wake up in the morning and not only look forward to my day of school, but also know I am in an environment that will aid me in making my dreams come true. That's a remarkable feeling that I'm so grateful for." -- Erin Tonkon

What an eloquent and thoughtful message to share, Erin. Thank you so much!

As a new feature of our newsletter, we're introducing a Teacher Corner section, where our unique faculty can share the experiences and inspiration they draw from being a part of the Fusion family.

This issue, Krystle Forseth, Math Department head, comments on her teaching experiences at Fusion:

"As a college student, I was faced with the common question of what I should do with my life. Like almost everyone else, I wanted to make a difference. As I observed numerous classroom ettings during my undergraduate career, I often felt that something was missing. It was clear to me that not every student is able to learn in the same way, and the classes that I observed had limited resources to accommodate the needs of these students. After graduation, I set out to become a private tutor instead.

Little did I know, but that same one-on-one logic used during tutoring could be applied to teaching course material as well. Fusion opened new doors for me, and gave me hope for the education system.

Each day, I am required to look at ideas from every different angle. The sense of openness and compassion here is unlike any other school I've seen. I am very honored to be a part of this unique and innovative learning environment. Thanks, Fusion!"

Thank YOU, Krystle! You are an incredible teacher and important part of our Fusion family!

Fusion Academy News for May/June 2007

We proudly announce the names of our 2007 graduating class! They are simply amazing!

Jake Blok • Curran Boyd • Paul Clausen

Joseph Farmer • Alena Goodman •  Alyssa Gosselin 

Taylor Groff • Aimee Jacobs  • James Marren

Kent Nishio • Alice Norris • Loni Olsher

Yanick Rieffel  • Tamara Sharif

Graduation is Friday, June 1st. Graduation practice date will be determined the week of May 21st. All families of graduates are invited to the graduation ceremony, to be held at Morgan Run in Rancho Santa Fe. You should already have received your invitations, and graduates' caps and gowns will arrive by the week of May 21st.

If you have any questions about graduation, please contact Sarah Easton.

We probably don't need to remind you, but the last day of school at Fusion Academy for the 2006-07 school year is Wednesday, June 13th.

Our summer school program begins on Monday, June 18th, and all students joining us for the summer will receive their summer schedules by mail shortly.

The week of May 7th was IROC Week. Be on the lookout for your child's progress report, grades, self-evaluation, and updated goals. Transcripts will be sent at the end of this school year, and not in this IROC report. Please contact Michelle Gilman or Joseph Malki if you'd like to discuss your child's IROC and goals.

And, please discuss your child's self-evaluation with him or her. This is an excellent opportunity to bring up progress and how he or she feels about personal experiences at school. Keep in mind, though, that students' self-evaluations are just that: SELF-evaluations. Try not to be judgmental, as that can skew your child's unique and individual introspection.

All full-time students' parents are required to make an appointment with Joseph Malki and Michelle Gilman for the week of June 25th-July 2nd.

During this very important meeting, we will discuss the fall 2007 semester, and what classes your child needs to satisfy graduation requirements. You will also select fall classes for your child at this time. Please schedule your appointment ASAP by contacting Sarah Easton at the front desk.

A creative explosion is happening on Saturday, June 2nd, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Fusion Academy's first Annual Showcase of the Arts!

The "Are You Listening?" showcase will feature student art pieces, musical works, and poetry. The centerpiece of the extravaganza will be the Text Art exhibit, comprised of both student and faculty work and prompted by the question, "What would you like to say to the Universe?" Many thanks to Mary Piazza Easton, Art Program Director, for initiating this event and your endless dedication to promoting the arts!

The poetry/rap slam portion of the event, guided by teacher Bailee Chandler, will be a live reading of short, original pieces by nine students from 8th-12th grade. These works represent what the students feel best illustrates who they are and what they want the world to know about them.

Last, but certainly not least, Fusion Band will celebrate the release of its annual CD at the exhibit. A diverse group of student musicians worked hard with Music Program Director Nicholas Angelo and music teacher Bobby Neal the entire school year to create it. Students from the Digital Graphics and Art classes collaborated to design the visual portions of the CD. You can show your support of our incredible students and their talents by purchasing a copy of the CD at the exhibit for just $5.

The Fusion Family Friday Fun Day (parents are invited!) will be Friday, June 8th. A softball game is the activity, and teams will consist of students, parents, and faculty. The event is being held in Cardiff, on Lake Drive at the baseball fields. Meet at Fusion at 9:30 a.m., and the game will start promptly at 10 o' clock.Teams will be selected at the field on game day.

We need a good turnout--at least 18 players--to make this work, so please plan to participate! For more info or to sign up, please call or email Nicholas Angelo right away.

If you need a lift from Fusion to the game, please let Nicholas know so he can reserve a seat for you in the Fusion van.

Also, please bring a mitt if you have one, as Fusion only has nine (one left-handed).

Kate Brutlag will tackle the positions of Foreign Language department head AND Test Preparation department head. She takes over these responsibilities from Janelle Pieros, who is leaving us at the end of the school year to go to med school.

About her new position, Kate says:

"As a lover of foreign languages and a compulsive standardized test-taker, I hope to bring new insight and experience to the Foreign Language and Test Preparation departments at Fusion. In the foreign languages area, I plan to continue Janelle's excellent work by increasing the number of languages taught at Fusion, and by showcasing the cultural studies of our students through a yearly multicultural event.

Also, as the new Test Prep department head, I hope to bring my prior experience as an SAT, CAT, and MCAT tutor to our students. I also plan to draw on my personal experience, having taken eight standardized tests between high school and college! My goals include improving Fusion's tracking of student scores and building up the ACT side of our program.

I welcome communication from both parents and students, and look forward to working with you all!"

At last, thanks to teacher Erik Hinojosa, Fusion is offering American Sign Language (ASL) for credit, beginning this summer. ASL1 is being offered first, to be followed by ASL2 in the fall. Erik says about this course:

"I'm very excited to bring ASL to Fusion Academy this year, which will launch during the summer program. ASL isn't just a collection of hand movements and gestures, but rather a complex language with a rich culture. While attending UCSD, I was fortunate to room with a deaf student. This experience allowed me to witness the deaf culture firsthand, and learn ASL from a 'native speaker.' It always felt like I was studying abroad without having to go anywhere! I furthered my interest in ASL by taking courses in it at UCSD and, as you can imagine, my roommate with a great help. I look forward to teaching this course to our students, and sharing its amazing culture with our Fusion community."

Fusion's first outdoor astronomy lab was a great success! With our new eight-inch telescope, wide-angle binoculars, and star wheels constructed by student Graham Bishop in hand, we headed out to Lake Hodges under darkened skies on May 8th.

Students delighted in sightings of Venus, Saturn, and some late spring constellations. Though haze obscured other planned sights (including the Orion nebula and the binary star system Alberio), the next outdoor astronomy lab should be even more exciting, as the Milky Way and summer triangle rise higher in the skies over the course of the summer.

Also, if you have access to any dark, flat areas with unobstructed horizons, or have any questions regarding the astronomy labs themselves, please email Astronomy course instructor Kate Brutlag.

We hosted WASC again in late March, and we believe we came through with flying colors! We haven't received our official letter of notification yet, but we are confident that Fusion shined like a star.

Many thanks go out to Fusion moms Julia Durkin and Joanne Wornham for leading our Parent Advisory Group and for organizing great parent events!

In particular, thank you very much for Teacher Appreciation Day and the excellent turnout for the WASC parent meeting!

We are honored to have volunteer Parent Coordinators who are so incredibly dedicated, and many thanks to ALL Fusion parents who participated in the events this past year.

Fusion parents rock!

Are there any parents in the biotech field who might be able to help us acquire more lab equipment and materials to enhance our science lab? If you have anything to donate, or can assist us in obtaining things we need, please contact Brian Peterson, Science Department head. Thank you!

Erin Tonkon is student of the month! Erin elected to write her own entry into this issue of the newsletter, instead of us writing about her:

"Fusion has given me the opportunity to pursue my passion for music while continuing with a rigorous academic course load. The teachers and students here provide overwheming support on my path to success, and the progress I have made in terms of self-acceptance, personal well-being, and finding the courage to strive for only the best has truly skyrocketed in the months I have been a part of the Fusion family.

I wake up in the morning and not only look forward to my day of school, but also know I am in an environment that will aid me in making my dreams come true. That's a remarkable feeling that I'm so grateful for." -- Erin Tonkon

What an eloquent and thoughtful message to share, Erin. Thank you so much!

As a new feature of our newsletter, we're introducing a Teacher Corner section, where our unique faculty can share the experiences and inspiration they draw from being a part of the Fusion family.

This issue, Krystle Forseth, Math Department head, comments on her teaching experiences at Fusion:

"As a college student, I was faced with the common question of what I should do with my life. Like almost everyone else, I wanted to make a difference. As I observed numerous classroom ettings during my undergraduate career, I often felt that something was missing. It was clear to me that not every student is able to learn in the same way, and the classes that I observed had limited resources to accommodate the needs of these students. After graduation, I set out to become a private tutor instead.

Little did I know, but that same one-on-one logic used during tutoring could be applied to teaching course material as well. Fusion opened new doors for me, and gave me hope for the education system.

Each day, I am required to look at ideas from every different angle. The sense of openness and compassion here is unlike any other school I've seen. I am very honored to be a part of this unique and innovative learning environment. Thanks, Fusion!"

Thank YOU, Krystle! You are an incredible teacher and important part of our Fusion family!