ALF College Application Essay Workshop

Sign up now to participate in the ALF College Application Essay Workshop taught by Sally Spangler, LCHS College Counselor. To sign up, pick up an application form at the CCRC (at LCHS) or at the Assistance League of Flintridge (4607 Oakwood Avenue, LCF, 790-1328).

Classes will be held from 9:15 - 11:30AM on either:

• Thursday mornings: July 10 AND July 17, or
• Saturday mornings: July 12 AND July 19.

IN ADDITION to the group sessions listed above, each student should sign up for an individual session after their first session (offered on July 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21 and 22). Specific times available are listed on the application form.

The workshops are for incoming seniors, and cost $100.

Email any questions to Mrs. Spangler at: sspangler@lcusd.net

Flunk the Budget, Not our Children

State PTA closely monitors California proposed budgets to ensure that our children get State funding they desperately need. The Governor continues to challenge this important component in our children’s future. In the most recent May Revise released May 15th, – while the Governor is restoring some of the funding into the education budget – the revised budget still significantly under-funds our schools and if approved, will force more than $4 billion in cuts to education programs. Specifically, the May Revise would eliminate annual cost of living adjustments to schools, despite the steadily increasing operating costs for local districts. Once again, schools and students are being asked to do more with less.

A few fee increases are proposed in the May Revise, such as a state park admission fee increase of $1, and student fee increases to the UC and CSU systems and a $6 - $12 annual surcharge on homeowners’ insurance to fund emergency response services. The Governor has also proposed a plan to borrow money from future State Lottery revenues to help balance the budget. However, this proposal would need to be placed on the ballot as a measure to be approved by California voters in November. In the event the voters reject the Lottery ballot measure, the Governor is asking the Legislature to support a 1% increase in the state’s sales tax rate.

You can help; speak out for your children’s future. Please contact your local State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino and Senate Representative Jack Scott and voice your concerns to “Flunk the Budget” at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html . Let them know you do not want to see cuts to children’s education programs and that the State should invest in a more balanced approach instead of continually whittling away such severe cuts in education.

Spartan Scoop Goes Digital

This past year, we didn't automatically send every family a copy of the printed Scoop. Instead, we asked people who wanted it to let us know. Only 75 people requested a printed copy. Because of the time and expense involved in editing, publishing, and distributing the printed Scoop, we've decided that now is the time to go completely digital. You're reading the final copy of the Scoop right now.

In the future, you'll find two great ways to get PTSA and LCHS information:

1. This website, and
2. The PTSA president emails, which you can sign up for in the upper righthand corner of this page.

Please make sure you're signed up for the emails, and then take the time to read them when they arrive in your email box. They are quite thorough, and include late-breaking news about school events and deadlines. If you've been receiving the printed Korean translation, please look for an email version this Fall.

If you wish to have news included on the PTA website or in the PTA President emails, please send it to: publicity@lchs912.org

Thank you to Joanne Lew, Scoop Editor, and the team of volunteers, Laura Stetson, Christie Frandsen, Cayce Sheppard, Kimie Cho, who made sure you got the Scoop this year!

STEP (Student Teacher Enrichment Period) Proposal

STEP Blog

Overview:

Last week the Administration and members of the STEP Committee presented the proposed STEP schedule to the LCHS School Board on Tuesday night, to the students of LCHS during their SSR, and to approximately 200 parents during the information meeting on Wednesday night. The proposal was developed in response to the identified needs of students and teachers in alignment with the principles and philosophy of a Professional Learning Community. Kevin Buchanan, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at LCHS, has created a Web Log (BLOG) for all parents, teachers, and staff to share their questions, comments, and concerns regarding this proposal. The presentation given to the students and the parents are both posted on the BLOG, as well as the proposed schedule. Articles explaining the purpose of and benefits of a Professional Learning Community, which were used in developing this proposal are also included on the BLOG. The history and rationale for the STEP proposal will be posted soon. The Administration and STEP Committee invite you to learn more about the STEP schedule and look forward to your constructive and reflective inquiry on the process and aims of this proposal. www.lchsstep.net.

Letter from the Principal:

Schools in general, and high schools in particular, are charged with many priorities—supporting students through rigorous academic challenges, providing a safe venue to pursue experiences in art, music, athletics and other activities, and at the same time to balance the maintaining of traditions with the push to seek innovations to improve these experiences. In addition to the daily business of school, we are engaged in some reflection and planning on how we do what we do and why we do what we do. Over the past two years, we have been engaged in our WASC accreditation process—producing a set of action plans that direct a great deal of our purpose. Engaging all students, providing support for students at all levels including remediation and enrichment, looking at our current practices related to SSR and developing something that benefits our students, as well as making changes in the way we provide for professional development for our staff.

With these various mandates in mind, the staff engaged in a powerful experience in November wherein we evaluated on our needs as a school, the needs of our students, and sought ideas and concepts that would make a positive difference in how we do our business. The concepts and proposals that emerged from this initial experience have been picked apart, looked at from many points, molded and reshaped to consider all of the competing needs and demands, and has come back in what is seen as our current proposal of STEP. Considerations of the window of the school day (starting and ending times would remain very similar), the interests and activities of our students outside of school (balance is important) helped develop this concept.

In the simplest of terms, the STEP is a retasking of educational minutes previously spent on SSR into seven different areas including:

1. Special Interest Enrichment (eg Jazz Band, 21st Century Institutes, College and Career Planning, Specialized Content offerings etc),
2. Remediation Support (Core content support for students in academic areas during the school day in lieu of giving up an elective),
3. Club Advisories (Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial, Foreign Language Clubs etc)
4. General Support (Writing Labs, Math Lab, Science Lab, Foreign Language Lab, AP Tutorials),
5. Guided Study (for work on group or individual projects with support of peers and staff),
6. Service Learning (Rainforest Club, Green Club, Heifer International),
7. Support Groups/Counseling (Developmental Assets, Grief Group, Family Ties, Friendship, Study Skills, College Apps), and
8. Test Proctoring (to support make ups).

These are just the broad categories and a sample of the offerings still being developed. This period would be early in the day on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and in the middle of the day on Wednesday and Thursday. Students will be able to choose up to 5 different offerings a week, or multiples of some so that they have something that supports their needs and interests each day. This period of 45 minutes would provide over 108 hours of specialized value to students over the course of a school year by reallocating existing time, and with the addition of about 4 minutes per school week throughout the year.

On the staff side, this format would provide staff with some professional development time during their contract work day each week, and support our goals of establishing a true Professional Learning Community that seeks out Best Practices and conducts action research as a regular part of seeking out how best to support and promote our students.

This is still a proposal, as we are gathering feedback from our students and parents. This proposal is intended for the fall of 2008, and can be accomplished on a mechanical level as we have in place the online registration process used for our regular schedule. The 20 plus staff who have worked on this are excited about the great potential for students and staff that his concept would bring, and I share their enthusiasm as I share its components to students and parents. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to drop me a note or give me a call.

On a final note, this proposal has been developed while we still pursue all that we do, including the season of AP and STAR tests, Senior experiences, year end celebrations, and the planning for the 2008-2009 school year. Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support of your children we are fortunate enough to work with daily.

Dr. Damon Dragos
Principal

Click here to see / comment on the STEP blog.

New Cellular Phone Laws that Go Into Effect July 1, 2008

On July 1st,

• ALL drivers will be prohited from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle.
• Drivers under 18 will NOT be able to use a hands-free device while driving.
• Drivers 18 and over will be able to use a hands-free device while driving.

Click here to see a detailed FAQ on the CA DMV website.

Dial the correct number from your cell phone

If you are interested in traveling abroad - living with a host family, learning or improving your foreign language and becoming immersed in another culture, this program is for you. You can live with a family for a semester or a year, and attend school in another country while participating in their community life. You can experience the summer Homestay where you:

1. live with a family and learn about their community and country, or
2. live with a family while getting formal training in their language, or
3. live with a family while participating in a community service program or a special program like Soccer in Paraguay or the Wilderness Adventure in New Zealand.

If you are interested in hosting an exchange student and enriching your family’s life with a wonderful teenager from another country, this program is also for you.

For more information, go to www.usa.afs.org. Or call: Mardi Breckheimer 790-5938.

2008-09 Site Council Parent Reps

The ballots have been tallied and the results are in. Congratulations to the following Site Council Parent Representatives for 7/8 and 9-12:

• 7/8 Voting Members are: Debbie McCoy and Joy Smith
• 7/8 Alternates are: Pam Knapp and Valerie Aenlle-Rocha
• 9-12 Voting Members are: Emilie Toomarian, Jon Jilg, Leslie Husa and Beth Gordon
• 9-12 Alternates are: Meredith Fox, Marian Christiansen, Sue Cavanaugh, & Jill Blaisdell

Click here to learn more about School Site Council.

Angeles Forest Institute

The Community Center of La Canada Flintridge is presenting an exciting new program for teens this summer!

The Angeles Forest Institute is an opportunity for young adults entering 10th through 12th grades to investigate the geology and biodiversity of the Angeles Forest ecosystem. Students will engage in physically and academically rewarding experiences during the week long course including: learning the geology and ecology of the Angeles Forest, developing wilderness skills that will be used on an overnight backpacking field trip, and conducting field based data collection and analysis. At the end of the course a closing reception will be held for students and parents where students will present analysis and demonstrate skills.

Lead instructor Brandon Browne is a former La Cañada resident and an Assistant Professor at the Cal State Fullerton department of geological sciences. Dr. Browne has taught field science courses in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and California. Dr. Mark Ewoldsen “Dr. E.” from La Cañada High School will be a guest lecturer.

Dates are August 11-17, 8:30am-5:00pm and the cost is only $100.00 for the entire week. All material and vehicle costs generously underwritten by the City of La Cañada Flintridge.

To register please call go to our website at www.cclcf.org or call the center at 818-790-4353.

Next Year's PTSA Slate

Here's the slate of officers for the 2008-09 school year. They were approved at the March PTSA meeting.

President-- Cayce Sheppard
1st Vice President—Programs-- Becky Lankey
2nd Vice President—Ways & Means-- Cindy Gilbert
3rd Vice President—Volunteers-- Jody Platisa
4th Vice President—Communications-- Kathy Hernandez
5th Vice President—Hospitality DeeDee McCutchan
6th Vice President—Student Liaison Hilary Gregg
Recording Secretary-- Nancy Smith
Corresponding Secretary-- Nancy Newhouse Porter
Treasurer-- Nancy Antonoplis
Financial Secretary-- Celina Lew
Auditor-- Cary Moore
Historian-- Michele Listo
Parliamentarian-- Karen Mathison

Don't Park in the Cutout During Dropoff or Pickup

Many of you are probably aware that a La Crescenta Station Sheriff was at school on Wednesday, March 5 at 2:00 and ticketed the cars that were illegally parked in the pull-out section on Oak Grove. This in no way was directed at the students.

I want to explain to you what is happening. The City installed the pull-outs in front of the school specifically to alleviate the traffic congestion and safety hazard that had been occurring on Oak Grove and Foothill, both in the morning and the afternoon, when students are brought to, and picked up from, school. The signs in this area are posted with a maximum parking time of 2 hours with no parking between 8:00-9:00 a.m. and also between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Unfortunately, the pull-out area is being used by students who park there until school gets out at 2:37 p.m.

When those pull-outs are not available for parents, those cars then park in front of the school in a line that stretches to Foothill, turns the corner and can stretch all the way to the access road which leads to the 7/8 turnaround. Understandably, this also causes a problem not only for the cars waiting to approach Foothill, but also for the cars exiting the turnaround. When the cars cannot exit the turnaround, it becomes a standstill which loops into the turnaround and back out to Foothill blocking the cars who are trying to get into the turnaround. It is just a bad situation any way you look at it.

When the sheriff arrived on March 5 (with support of Administration), ominously, the students parked in the pull-outs were ticketed. Ironically, there was plenty of parking available in the back end of the parking lot which is specifically designated for the students (which reportedly is the case during the day).

The very next day, Thursday, the flow of traffic was so immeasurably efficient and quick, that many parents expressed their extreme gratitude.

Since the sheriff department will be making 2:00 trips to the school, would you please advise your driving students to park their cars after lunch in the back part of the parking lot which is designated for them, or in the senior parking lot, in order to avoid these costly tickets.

Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and opinions so that we can continue to keep the parents happy, the lines moving, and the students parking.

Karen Mathison
PTA Safety & Traffic Chair
karenmathison AT charter.net

Canines on Campus

LCHS families should have received a letter from Principal Damon Dragos just before spring break informing them of the plan to have Interquest Detection Canines on campus periodically during the fourth quarter. Interquest’s specially trained Labrador and Golden Retrievers will be used to minimize the presence of prohibited items on campus. As noted in the letter, Interquest provides these services to many schools throughout the area.

Letter to Parents re: MRSA from Dr. Dragos

Over the past few months the news media has made the public aware of a
type of staph called MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus).
Recently there have been some reported cases in Los Angeles County and
after contacting the Department of Health we would like to provide you with
the attached guide. We provide this guide as an informational tool to inform
not to alarm. To date we have had one isolated case in the district that has
been successfully treated by a doctor with no other cases reported in that
classroom.

Summer School

The last day of school is Wednesday, June 18th. The school reserves a number of spots for students who fail courses and needs time identify and notify those students, therefore, summer school this year runs from Wednesday, June 25th to Thursday, July 31st inclusive. There will be no school on Friday, July 4th.

Each unit of credit requires 12 hours of instruction or 120 total hours.
120 hours divided by 4 hours 40 minutes (per day) = 26 days

Starting summer school on Wednesday, June 25th and ending on Thursday, July 31st, taking Friday, July 4th for the holiday would total 26 days.

Daily Schedule

• Period 1 7:50 – 10:10 a.m. (140 minutes)
• Break 10:10 – 10:25 a.m.
• Period 2 10:25 - 12:45 p.m. (140 minutes)

Potential course offerings include:

Important Summer School Information:

• There is a very strict attendance policy for summer school that requires that a student be dropped from the class if they accumulate more than three absences.
• There are two 13-day semesters: The second semester starts on July 15th. Students who are making up just one semester can just attend one summer semester, but it must be the one that they are making up. For example, if a student is repeating the second semester of a class, she would start on July 15th, or if a student is just repeating the first semester of a class, then he would just attend for the first 13 days.
• US Government is a semester class, as is Economics, so if a student is absent more that one-and-a-half days in a semester of either of these classes, they will be dropped from the class.
• Students register for summer school when they select their fall classes. and we plan to have online course selection for next year's registration.

CPC Releases Teen Summit Report

The Community Prevention Council has released its report on risky teen activity in La Canada. Read the report.

Order a Value Card - It's our only Fundraiser!

Another fantastic year of discounts is here! For only $10.00, you can shop & save at your favorite shops and restaurants all year long!!

Featured vendors include:

To order, download the Value Card page or the whole One Check Order Form (see page 8) and either turn it in to the LCHS 9-12 office or mail the Value Card page with your check to Amelia Lyng at 5320 Ivafern Lane LCF. Questions? Call Amelia at 790-2319 or email her at lyngs@charter.net. Checks should be made out to LCHS PTSA.

Core Literature Books Available at Flintridge Books

The Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse wishes to thank the community for their support by offering 10% of net sales on Core Literature Books for 9-12 back to the LCHS-PTA from now until June 1. Open evenings for last-minute purchases!

Laws That Affect Teens / Students

Did you know that:

• Kids can legally be out past curfew if they're participating in a religious, educational or political activity?
• In developing a school dress code, parents must be involved in the decision-making process?
• Parents are often liable when their kids damage, destroy or deface others' property?

These and other California laws that might concern children and their actions are explained in a VERY readable format in the 2007 version of Kids & the Law: An A-Z Guide for Parents. Topics covered include driving laws, drugs, alcohol, online predators, juvenile court, and much more.

There are two other similarly excellent publications: When You Become 18: A Survival Guide for Teenagers and Seniors & the Law: A Guide for Maturing Californians

Student Parking

Student Parking is limited to Seniors and Juniors only.  Seniors will have access to the front parking lot on Oak Grove; Juniors and overflow Seniors will park in the "cage area."   Please advise your students: Parking will be strictly enforced.  Parking is no longer permitted on either Oak Grove Drive or in Hahamongna Park.  Students also may not park in the access road or beyond, in the staff lot, or in any visitor-designated spots.  Students parking in these locations will be at risk of being cited and their vehicle may be towed.

Parking permit information and forms are available on the LCUSD website, as well as parking permit regulations and request for a parking permit forms.

SafeHomes is a Community Prevention Council (CPC) program which provides a way for parents to establish clear expectations of "no use" of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs by minors.  Participation in the SafeHomes program is offered to all families with children of any school age.  Research indicates that young people who experience caring and supportive families and communities are less likely to engage in risky behavior.  If you are committed to declaring your home a SafeHome, please go to www.wmadigital.com/SafeHomes where you can add your name to the growing list of caring families.  It is a wonderful resource you can access to see which other families have made the same commitment.  I urge you all to seriously consider becoming a SafeHome Family.

SAT Online Courses

The school is no longer offering free online PSAT / SAT courses.
Here are some online PSAT / SAT study alternatives:

• ePrep
• College Board
• Eureka
• Princeton Review
• Number2.com
• Kaplan
• PrepMe
• Peterson

Click here to see an About.com article comparing various alternatives.

NOTE: This list is for informational purposes only. PTSA does not endorse any of these over any others.

High School Military Recruiters

It is Federal Law that any high school that accepts federal funding for education is mandated to release pertinent information on all high school students, grades 9-12.

If the high school does not comply, federal education funding would be discontinued.

However, as many parents already know, the only way to not have your students’ information released to the military is to request it not be given. Any parent choosing this option should send a letter, with a handwritten signature, to Mrs. Cynthia Smithers, LCHS Registrar. One letter will suffice for your students’ entire time at LCHS. There needs to be one letter for each student’s file.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Observe CAR LINE Courtesy

Let's all work together to provide a safe carpooling experience for morning drop off and afternoon pick up. When entering the Oak Grove pullout, the school parking lot or the 7/8 turnaround:

Please also remember:

Think “Y E S”: Youth Employment Service

The Y E S office is open! Kids can sign up to work, and adults can call to hire. Sample job possibilities include:

For a job listing or hiring:
Call Wendy at 952-4217

Regular Office Hours: M-F 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm, SSMRC