Phelan

Welcome back Excelsior Phelan Eagles to the 2022-2023 school year!

We hope you have had a rejuvenating and relaxing summer break. We are looking forward to another incredible year. As a result of the hard work and diligence of all stakeholders including, students, parents, staff, and administrators, I would like to inform you that we have received the highest accreditation possible, with a 6-year WASC renewal! We are extremely proud of this hard work we can’t thank you all for your support this past school year to achieve this recommendation.

As a result of the WASC committee recommendations, and as we strive to continually improve students’ academic success, Excelsior Charter Schools will focus our academic efforts on Reading, Writing, and Math, as well College and Career Readiness, and English Learner Progress. We are now offering supplemental math courses to help build student learning gaps in math for students in grades 7th-10th grade, or as needed. Reading and writing labs have also been integrated into the class schedule to help provide students additional opportunities to build these skills. Additionally, these classes will be assigned as elective credits to help build students credits necessary to graduate.

We encourage students to take at least one core subject dual enrollment course prior to graduating from high school. Participating in dual enrollment is one of the indicators that can help prepare students for their post-high school pathways, but it also is a means for students to gain college experience at a minimal cost of $1 per unit, and students can also take courses and electives that are not offered with Excelsior for additional academic learning opportunities. This school year, we are offering 4 CCAP courses, Fall- Music 118 (History of Rock and Roll) and Guidance 50 (Recommended for new college students) and Art 104 (Film as an Art Form) and Guidance 100. These courses are free to Excelsior students and includes textbooks and support from the Excelsior Phelan staff. With the help of our school counselor, Mrs. Mallie Escalante, we can help build and support your student’s academic plan and success as we progress into the next school year.

To support English Learners on campus, teachers will be provided resources and instructional strategies that are intended to be applied to the classroom. Students will be provided additional resources and support throughout the year as teachers participate in professional development. It is our intent to provide the best learning opportunities for all students.

With the help and support from Excelsior Charter Schools administration at Central Office, I would like to inform you that we have hired a social science teacher to provide instruction and learning support for both Junior High and High School history courses. We are very excited to have the additional staff to help provide learning and instruction in this academic area, which has been only taught for junior students in the past.

Finally, we have officially asked and offered the position of the Administrative Assistant to our former facilitator, Tiana Ramirez. We are super excited to have in this new role on the Phelan campus, and she is going to do a fantastic job of continuing to providing support to the school site.

Thank you for all your continued support and efforts as we work together to help ensure we have a great start to this school year. The first day of school is on August 15th, 2022. Your facilitator and classroom teachers will continue to be working closely with you and your family to ensure that you have a successful school year.

On behalf of our Excelsior Phelan staff, we look forward to meeting with all of you very soon!

Michelia McDonald

Principal, Excelsior Charter Schools

Phelan Campus

Autobiography

My name is Michelia McDonald, Principal of Excelsior Charter Schools, Phelan Campus.  This is my 12^th year with Excelsior and 14^th year in education.  I graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Adolescent Development, and where I earned my teaching credential.  I began teaching at a local charter school for two years before hiring with Excelsior Charter Schools as a long-term facilitator and math instructor for the inaugural year of the Phelan Campus. I began working as the principal of the Phelan campus in 2018 where I have dedicated my career to providing a safe, quality alternative education option for families of the Phelan, Pinon Hills, and Wrightwood communities.