CVHS GUIDANCE NEWS: March 13th, 2008
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CAHSEE Testing for Sophomores Completed This Week:
All sophomore students were scheduled to take the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) for the first time this week. The test was administered this Tuesday and Wednesday, and preliminary data shows that nearly 97% of all CVHS sophomores tested this week. This is an incredible school accomplishment, and both students and parents are to be commended for this outstanding turnout!! Students who were absent for one or both tests this week MUST test during make-ups on May 6th and 7th; these are the only state-approved make-up dates. Passing both subtests of the CAHSEE is required in order to earn a high school diploma. Students will have several opportunities to pass the exam during high school, beginning with this first attempt during the sophomore year.
NEXT WEEK: EAP Essay Exam for California State University (CSU) Eligible Juniors:
A letter was mailed home in early February to the parents of all California State University (CSU) eligible juniors (i.e. those juniors who have a grade point average of 2.9 or above and who are also making progress on satisfactorily completing college prep coursework necessary for four-year college admissions after high school). The letter informed parents that any junior who may decide to attend a CSU campus after high school graduation should sign up to take the “Early Assessment Program” (EAP) tests in math and English. Although the EAP tests are NOT used by the University of California (UC) system, it is recommended that all four-year college eligible juniors (approx. 2.75 or greater GPA with proper college prep coursework) take the EAP tests in case students later decide to attend a CSU after graduation. The essay portion of these tests will be given here at CVHS during part of period 1 and tutorial on March 19th and the multiple choice portions will be given later in conjunction with annual STAR testing in May. In order to pass, student MUST take ALL portions of these tests, and although the tests are voluntary, taking the tests will allow CSU admissions to evaluate and place students in college math and English classes. Scoring well on the tests will ensure that students do not have to take remedial math and English classes as CSU college freshman. Students still interested in taking the EAP tests MUST sign up in the Guidance Office immediately. Please contact your student’s Academic Advisor with any questions.
NEXT WEEK: Student/Parent Night : “Finding ‘Sleeper’ Colleges Part II – They Really Do Exist!”
Back by popular demand, the Capistrano Valley High School Guidance Department will again this year host a night for parents and students on how to identify and select outstanding colleges that are perhaps smaller or lesser known. “Part I” of this informational program was offered last year, and this year, a selection of entirely different colleges will be discussed. Come and discover the world of great colleges and educational opportunities that exist beyond UC Berkeley, UCLA and USC! Patrick Levens, Executive Director of CUSD Secondary Instructional Services, will be the featured speaker. The presentation will be held Thursday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the Capistrano Valley High School main building.
DEADLINE SOON: Saddleback College “Early Bird” Registration Ends March 27th :
Seniors planning to attend Saddleback College in the fall should register on-line through the “Early Bird” registration program, which began March 1st and will end March 27th. The advantages of “Early Bird” registration include: early application for the Fall 2008-09 semester, early matriculation services, and priority enrollment. There are TWO (2) steps to the “Early Bird” application, and if students have not yet chosen their matriculation test dates, then they have NOT yet completed the entire process. The CVHS Guidance Team has been assisting seniors with registration workshops during Thursday March tutorials, and there are two workshops remaining (3/20 and 3/27). However, students are free to register on their own through the Saddleback website at: www.saddleback.edu/ss/ar In addition, Saddleback will offer registration workshops on Monday, March 17th from 2-4 p.m. and Thursday, March 27th from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., both dates in room SSC-140. Information packets are also available at the CVHS Guidance Office or the CVHS Career Center.
6-Week Progress Reports:
The second semester 6-week progress reporting period will end Friday, March 14th. Parents should therefore be receiving a progress report via US mail within the next 7-10 days. Parents who do not receive a report by March 30th for any reason should contact their student’s Academic Advisor.
SAVE THESE IMPORTANT DATES!!
**Tentative Dates for Summer Registration Packet Pick-up, Walk-through Registration, and Freshman Orientation:
The following dates have been tentatively scheduled for registration packet pick-up, walk-through registration, and incoming freshman orientation:
Drive-through Registration Packet Pick-up in the CVHS Staff Parking Lot:
August 5th 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
August 6th 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
August 7th 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Walk-though Registration:
Freshman Day 1 (January – June birthdays): August 11th – times to be announced
Freshman Day 2 (July – December birthdays): August 12th – times to be announced
Seniors – August 18th – times to be announced
Juniors Day 1 (January – June birthdays): August 19th – times to be announced
Juniors Day 2 (July – December birthdays): August 20th – times to be announced
Sophomores: August 21st – times to be announced
Freshman Orientation – Class of 2012:
Wednesday, August 27th – time and location to be announced.
**Please note that the above dates are projected to be accurate and are provided to assist parents with summer planning; however, dates are still tentative at this time. Also, please note that freshman and juniors have two separate days for registration due to the large numbers of students in these classes. Lastly, even though freshman register first for logistical reasons, students in upper grades will still be given priority for selection of electives.
AP Testing Update:
AP exams will be administered during the period of May 5th through May 16th. Additional information regarding specific test dates, locations, and times will be given to students as the test dates move closer. In the meantime, any questions regarding AP Testing should be directed to AP Testing Coordinator /Academic Advisor Cassandra Ondryas at condryas@capousd.org
IMPORTANT – Parents of Freshmen – PE Fitness Testing:
All parents of freshman were sent important letter via US mail in late February regarding recent legislation involving 9th grade PE fitness testing. Per the new legislation (SB78 and SB601), all students in the class of 2011 and beyond must pass five out of six physical education standards as measured by the state Fitnessgram test when it is administered to all freshman during the spring semester. Students who do not pass the pass the Fitnessgram either in grade 9 or by the end of grade 10 will be required to complete additional years of PE in grades 11 and/or 12. Freshmen have been completing fitness testing over the past three weeks with their PE/Health teacher or athletic coach. Students not enrolled in PE/Health or athletics are being tested by PE teachers during student choice tutorial days.
Last Day to Make Level Changes:
The last day for students to make a course “level change” (moving down within the same subject area) is Friday, March 28, 2008.
“D” and “F” Grades: Implications for College Entrance, Graduation, and Summer School:
Students who receive a “D” or an “F” in a college prep course (i.e. math, science, English, social studies, Foreign Language, Visual/Performing Art, etc.) MUST improve the grade to a “C” or better if they wish the course to satisfy a college entrance requirement. For more specific information on grade and subject requirements for college admissions to CSU and UC campuses, please go to www.cvhs.com Click on “Guidance” and then on “College Info”. NOTE: Current seniors MUST immediately notify their college in writing if they have a change in their academic program from that which was reported during the application process. Students who receive an “F” in any course required for high school graduation MUST repeat the course. Summer school applications will be available sometime in March in the Guidance Office. Please see summer school information directly below.
Summer School – Save the Dates!
Tentative high school summer school dates have been announced. Summer school will be conducted at CVHS this summer on Monday through Thursday each week from 7:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. as follows:
Session I: Monday, June 23rd through Thursday, July 10th
Session II: Monday, July 14th through Thursday July 31st
Students who fail a required class or who must make-up a “D” grade for college admissions should plan to attend in order to stay on track for high school graduation and/or college admissions. NOTE: Some students will need to attend both sessions above, while others may only need to attend one session, depending upon which semester(s) of a given class need to be made-up. In general, a student who fails a class during fall semester will need to attend Session I, while a student who fails a class during spring semester will need to attend Session II. If a student fails a class or classes both semesters, they would need to attend both Sessions I and II.
Attention Seniors Accepted to Cal State Campuses:
Seniors who have been accepted and plan to attend a CSU campus should check the status of their English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Math (ELM) on their acceptance paperwork when received from the university. If the student has not met these requirements, either through the EAP process or SAT/ACT scores, they should plan on taking the tests soon. Click on the link below to see general information and the testing schedules for the various CSU campuses.
“Youth in Business Job Shadow Day”:
The Youth in Business Job Shadow Day will be held on Thursday, March 27th from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and is open to all CVHS students by application. Students will be matched with local employers to explore an area of career interest. Students and employers will also be attending a luncheon together to share their experiences. Applications may be picked up from Mrs. Deckert in the CVHS Career Center and are due by March 7th. This event is held in cooperation with the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce.
and answer questions. Please save the date and plan to attend!
PAST “OLD” ANNOUNCEMENTS & DATES:
Important Guidance Calendar Dates:
Please read the announcements above and/or below for details regarding each date/event listed.
Date Event Notes
3/19/08 EAP Testing for CSU Eligible Juniors See announcement above for details
3/20/08 Finding ‘Sleeper’ Colleges Presentation See announcement above for details
3/27/08 Youth in Business Job Shadow Day See announcement above for details
3/28/08 Last day to make a course level change See announcement above for details
5/5 – 5/16/08 AP Testing See announcement above for details
5/6 and 5/7/08 CAHSEE Make-up testing for sophomores See announcement above for details
5/15 – 5/19/08 Annual STAR Testing More details to come in April
6/23 – 7/31/08 High School Summer School Dates See announcement above for details
8/5, 6 & 7 Registration Packet Pick up See announcement above for details
8/11 & 12 Freshman walk-through registration See announcement above for details
8/18 Senior walk-through registration See announcement above for details
8/19 & 20 Junior walk-through registration See announcement above for details
8/21 Sophomore walk through registration See announcement above for details
8/27 Freshman Orientation See announcement
above for details
**WEBSITE REMINDER:
CVHS Guidance Website Resources:
Perhaps the best source of guidance information for parents and students can be found on the Capistrano Valley High School website at: www.cvhs.com For guidance information relating to college, scholarships, testing, careers, and general information, simply click on the following link: http://www.cvhs.com/guidance.htm or visit the CVHS website at www.cvhs.com and then click on “Guidance.”
Archive of Past Guidance News Listserves Now Available:
An archive of past CVHS Guidance News Listserve messages is now available on-line by visiting www.cvhs.com, then clicking on “Guidance” and looking near the bottom under “Guidance News and Announcements Archive.”
College Scholarship Information Posted:
Current scholarship opportunities are now posted at the following link: http://www.cvhs.com/Scholarship.htm , or go to www.cvhs.com and then click on “Guidance” and “Scholarship Info.” Recommendation: Scholarship information will be updated approximately every 7-10 working days, so students and parents should check the posting periodically throughout the year. In addition, a “Scholarship Notebook” of information will be available in the Guidance Office.
Change of Days and Locations: Spring Semester After-School Tutorial and Homework Center:
Does your student need some extra academic help or a quiet place to study after school? The spring semester CVHS After-School Tutorial and Homework Center began on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008. The program is staffed by CVHS science/math teacher, Mr. Eric Johnson, and held every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:55 – 3:55 p.m. in room M-26. Volunteer student tutors will also be available whenever possible. Recommendation: This is a great opportunity for students to get extra help and/or improve study habits, and we highly recommend regular attendance for those students who are earning below a “C” in any class.
PTSA Community Service Opportunities List:
Students who are looking for community service hours are encouraged to visit the CVHS PTSA website at the following link: http://www.capoptsa.org/programs/programs.html and then click on “Community Service.” The PTSA keeps an extensive and up-to-date list of community resources where students can look to fulfill various community service hour requirements.
SAT/ACT Test Preparation through CUSD Community Education and Ivy West Partnership:
The CUSD Community Education Department and Ivy West have partnered in order to provide affordable, quality SAT/ACT test preparation programs to CUSD students. To download information and registration materials, click on the following link (which may take a minute or two to load): http://www.cvhs.com/guidancedocs/Capistrano%20SAT%20&%20ACT%20Flyer%202008.pdf or visit the CUSD Adult and Community Education Website at: http://www.capousd.org/adult/ , then click on “Children and Teens” and look for the Ivy West test preparation section.
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) Test Dates and Info. for 2008:
May 6th and 7th - held at CVHS during the school day for only those juniors and seniors who have not yet passed one or both sections, and make-up test dates for sophomores who missed testing in March.
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) Preparation Books Available!
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) preparation books for Math and English Language Arts are now available in the Guidance Office for all sophomores and any juniors or seniors who have not yet passed one or both portions of the exam. (NOTE: These are the same booklets that will be handed out in all sophomore English II classes during Back to School Night, so students whose parents attended will not need to pick up booklets.)
On-Campus College Visits:
For a listing of the dates and times when various colleges and universities will be on the CVHS campus providing information and answering questions for potential student applicants, please visit the following link on our Guidance website: http://www.cvhs.com/guidancedocs/Collegerepsfall07.pdf Recommendation: Please check the list frequently as it will be updated throughout the year.