October 15, 2009

Website
Thanks to the hard work of Mark Haket, our new website is up and running.  We will continue to send home, via Lyris, our newsletter and important school information however it will also be posted on our website for your convenience.

Pictures and Student ID’s
If your middle and high school student did not get a student ID and would like to have one, please have them check at the front desk.  We have the ability to take a picture at Venture and send it to Creative Imaging who will make an ID card for your student.  The process takes about 10 days.
Seniors: If you are interested in getting a senior portrait taken, we still have flyers at the front desk.  You will need to make an appointment with Creative Imaging to have your picture taken.

Field Trips
Our first two field trips to see performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and South Pacific have sold out.  The next available field trip is to the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland scheduled for November 13 from 9:30-2:15 for students in grades 5-12.  If your student is interested in attending, please see Michaline Youngblood to get a permission slip and sign up for the trip.  Thank you Michaline for planning, organizing and supervising these trips.

Interact Club for High School Students
Interact Club consists of thousands of students motivated to have a positive impact both in their communities and internationally through Rotary and its projects that reach around the globe.  If you are interested in joining a local club, either download the flyer or pick one up at the front desk.  You may participate in one of our local high school clubs or join the San Ramon Community Interact Club that pulls from students throughout the area.  If you choose to join one of the high school clubs, you must check with Janet one week before attending your first meeting.
 

Health Challenge Test
In order to receive a high school or adult education diploma in the SRVUSD all students pass the Health class or take and pass the Health Challenge exam.  The exam is open to students in grades 8-11.  More information is available by downloading the attached flyer.  Petitions to take the test are available at the front desk.
   
CAHSEE
In order to earn a high school or adult education diploma all students must pass both the English and Math portions of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).   This test will be given to all 11th and 12th grade students who have not taken and or passed both sections of the test.  The English test will be given on Tuesday, November 3 and the math test on Wednesday, November 4 at 8:30 in Classroom 1 and 2.  Students have been notified by their teacher if they need to take this test.

Community Forums
The following is taken from the SRVUSD website (www.srvusd.net) regarding upcoming community forums.
The San Ramon Valley community has grown accustomed to a high level of academic performance in our schools. The upcoming community forums provide an opportunity to think creatively about ways to make this outstanding school district even better, and to revisit the values, mission and priorities of our school district.
 We need your input at these forums around issues such as:
•    How best to prepare students for success in a changing competitive, global environment, and what this means for teaching and learning.
•    Technology and expansion of world language education.
•    A possible restructuring of the senior year experience, allowing these students more time off campus in order to have a job, engage in community service or political advocacy, and/or take college classes.
•    How to best meet all of our facilities needs in terms of growth, modernization of older facilities and energy conservation.
The forums will be scheduled at each high school. Parents, staff, students and other community members may attend any forum that works best with their schedule. The staff forums will be at 4:00 p.m. and the community forums at 6:30 p.m. The dates and locations of the forums are as follows:
•    Wednesday, November 4, San Ramon Valley High School
•    Monday, November 9, Dougherty Valley High School
•    Thursday, November 12, Monte Vista High School
•    Monday November 16, California High School

Counselor’s Corner
Marsha Mak
mmak@srvusd.net
925 479-1215
SENIORS APPLYING TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES
It is time to start applying to the campuses of the University of California, California State University and private colleges.
The University of California applications are due November 30th.  Apply on-line at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
Most of the California State Universities have an application due date of November 30th, 2009.  Though there are a few that have a due date of October 31st.  Apply online at http://www.csumentor.org/admissionapp/undergrad_apply.asp
Many of the private colleges use the Common Application and have a variety of due dates.  To apply using the common application, please go to www.commonapp.org

Marsha is available to help all interested students with their applications.  Due to intersession, the last day of assistance is November 20th.  Please plan to see her as soon as possible.  For an appointment, please e-mail her at mmak@srvusd.net or call 925 479-1215.

CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, SPRING 2010
Both Chabot College and Las Positas College have their Spring 2010 schedules online.  If you are in 10th grade and above and are interested in taking a class or two at Las Positas or in 9th grade and above and would like to take classes at Chabot College, please come to Marsha’s drop in hours, Monday-Friday from 10 am – noon or e-mail her a mmak@srvusd.net to set up an appointment.

The Peralta Colleges Spring 2010 schedules are also online now.

Students interested in any of the other local community colleges should keep checking their website for their Spring 2010 schedules.  Once they are online, please see Marsha for the required forms.

DISCOVERY CENTER INTERN
Students wishing to meet with Jen Macias, MFT Trainee to discuss any personal issues, may request a permission slip for school counseling from their teachers or school counselor.  No student will be seen without parental consent.  Venture issues elective credits for these important meetings.


Community Links
We are interested in providing students and families with as many links to community activities as possible.  If you are aware of any activities open to our students, please let Janet know so they can be included in our newsletter.

Street Smarts Video Contest for Middle School Students
Middle school students in the San Ramon Valley are encouraged to participate in the 4th Annual Street Smarts “Be Reel!” video contest this fall on the topic of dangerous bicycling distractions.  For the valley-wide competition, students may work individually or in teams of up to four students to produce 60-second public service announcement (PSA) videos on the topic of walking safely to school. Videos will be judged based on content, creativity and clarity.  Finalist videos from the contest will be screened at the Danville International Children’s Film Festival in May 2010. Videos will be accepted through November 2, 2009. All student entrants and advisors will receive a prize.  Each member of the winning team will receive an iPod nano with digital docking station.  
Complete rules and additional information about the contest is available online at www.streetsmarts-srv.com or by contacting Nat Rojanasathira, Street Smarts Coordinator at 314-3382 or nrojanasathira@ci.danville.ca.us

Video Contest
The Federal Government is sponsoring a video contest for kids to earn a $1000 prize, 2 min. max length, due Nov 2.
http://www.ed.gov/iamwhatilearn/index.html

Slip Trip and Fall Contest for Middle and High School Students
Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Groups is challenging students with a poster contest.  
 

Calling All Bands and Musicians
The Valley Youth Council, known as the VYC Club, and the Town of Danville are planning concerts and acoustic shows. If you or your band would like to perform, all you need to do is get your demo to their booking crew. Demos can be a CD, mp3, link to website, or any other format that we can listen to. Email or call Chris with the Town of Danville. cwaage@ci.danville.ca.us 314-3481


These sites offer a variety of classes for students of all ages:
City of San Ramon:    http://www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/Parks/default.htm
Town of Danville:       http://www.ci.danville.ca.us/default.asp?serviceID1=440Frame=L1
Contra Costa Library: http://ccclib.org/programs