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Page 12 - March 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Monte Vista High School
San Ramon Valley High School
By Janet Terranova, Principal
By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal
March signals not only the beginning of spring but thoughts of the new school year. In March students begin to choose classes for next year. Classes that students choose for the 2012-2013 school year may look very different than the classes many of us chose when we were in high school. If you walked into a classroom today, it would look very familiar, but the options students have when choosing their classes is very different. Students are still required to take the usual array of required academic courses, English, mathematics, science, social studies, but even within these disciplines students have many options. When it comes to choosing electives, our students have a plethora of choices. High schools today have a number of electives that not only engage students with project based learning but provide opportunities for students to examine future career paths. Engineering, Robotics, and Architectural Design are just some of the electives students may select. While physics is a class many of us took in high school, today students may take “PET” (Physics, Engineering, and Technology). Students enroll in both physics and engineering beginning in a physics class and moving on to their engineering class where they put into action the information learned in their physics class. Today students have the opportunity to enroll in a number of visual and performing arts classes that stretch their creativity and allow them to investigate possible careers. Students can enroll in traditional black and white photography classes but may also choose from digital photo, video production, graphic arts or advance their musical talents through music theory classes and several band options. Students may take classes that allow them to gain college credit or gain the knowledge to enroll in more advanced classes when they matriculate to the community college. Sports Medicine and Careers with Children prepare students for advanced classes at local community colleges. While classrooms may physically look as they did 10, 20, or 30 years ago, the classrooms of today are vastly different and students have the opportunity to explore a variety of exciting electives. If you are helping a student choose classes for the next school year, encourage them to stretch, choose classes that pique their curiosity and allow them to gain a variety of experiences. If you would like more information about Monte Vista High School, please visit our website at mvhigh.org.
AAUW Scholarships The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is offering scholarships to local women. Last year 12 deserving recipients received $1,000 each and one received $1250. This year awards will be granted for $2,000. A special grant will go to the Jane Trittipo scholarship winner. Applicants must be a college junior or higher as of September 2012 at an accredited college or university. Graduate and post graduate students can also apply. Applicants will be accepted from Walnut Creek and the San Ramon Valley - please see our website for more specific requirements. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of scholarship, educational goals, and campus or community involvement. Completed scholarship applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2012. Applications are online at www.aauw-daw.org. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited fouryear colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree or equivalent. Prospective members can contact Tena at 925 837-0826 or membershipvp@aauw-da.org.
Hello San Ramon Valley High School Community! Spring is here, and with it comes a myriad of activities. First of all, I would like to congratulate all who participated in the winter activities including athletics (17 teams were awarded Scholastic Achievement teams) and performing arts. They continually provide us with incredible performances, and we thank them. As we roll into spring, here are some updates for you. Because this list may not be complete, please check the website www. srvhs.net for updates so you can make sure you don’t miss a thing!
SRV FUNraiser Please mark your calendar for our annual auction and get-together. This year, tickets are limited to 200. We will have an online auction, silent auction and live auction, plus good food, entertainment, and most of all FUN! Plan on joining us on March 31st.
Construction We are back into construction mode with the demolition of our old pool. The parking lot behind the tennis courts will be closed until the project is complete (late winter of 2012). The new pool will be “deep, deep” for water polo competitions and diving. It will also have a shallow portion.
Freshman/New Student Orientation - Registration We hosted our student orientation for freshman and new students. It was a two part evening – a discussion with the counselors for the first hour and then a discussion with students for the second hour. The evening was very informative. Registration is going on right now (March 8 – 16) for our current students for next year’s classes.
The Junior Prom – March 24th Our ultimate goal is to offers a safe, respectable event that gives our students wonderful memories. The Prom often brings a tremendous amount of pressure for students to consume alcohol. We have worked very hard to educate our students that this is not acceptable behavior and will not be tolerated. On behalf of the entire administrative team, I would appreciate it if you would spend time prior to the event discussing the importance of an Alcohol-free Junior Prom. Many students view this event as a time to “party” and leave all training and decorum at home. For many students, it comes as quite a surprise that the same rules at school apply as well to both the Junior Prom and Senior Ball. We expect the same standards of behavior when students attend the Prom as we do during the regular school day. Please help us communicate to your student that drinking and smoking is not allowed. If we do find a student who is under the influence of any alcoholic intoxicant or controlled substance, the parents will be contacted, and the student will be released to the parent.
CAHSEE Testing – 10th Graders/ Mock CAHSEE – 9th Graders Testing for all Sophomores, and, new this year, all Freshmen will be held the on March 13th and 14th. This “high stakes” test is one of three major requirements (CAHSEE, passing Algebra I, and completing 240 units) for graduation from San Ramon Valley High School. Please check the web page for specific testing times. Testing will affect all students as the daily schedule will be different; please plan accordingly. The freshmen will take a diagnostic test so that we may more accurately help them be successful when they take the CAHSEE as a Sophomore. Once again, thank you for truly making San Ramon Valley High School a great place to be!
Local Families Needed For Exchange Students ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE) is seeking local host families for international high school boys and girls. The students are 15 to 18 years of age, and are coming to this area for the upcoming high school year or semester. These personable and academically selected exchange students are conversant in English, bright, curious and anxious to learn about this country through living as part of a family, attending high school and sharing their own culture and language with their newly adopted host family. For more information call 800-733-2773.