Parents Of Westchester With Orville Wright: Reform Keyword: Autonomy

Friday, June 22, 2007

Reform Keyword: Autonomy

As in autonomy is coming to Westchester...

Superintendent Brewer announced the creation of a new Innovation Division for Educational Achievement (IDEA) to actively encourage change, innovation and partnerships within the District. IDEA will be managed directly under the Superintendent’s office, with an independent, external advisory board. Under this new structure, school personnel will be able to submit proposals to implement alternative educational ideas that that would make these schools essentially independent, increasing their autonomy and accountability. IDEA will benchmark best practices, determine the best way to replicate these ideas throughout the system.

Read the entire June 14th press release here --> http://notebook.lausd.net/pls/ptl/docs/PAGE/CA_LAUSD/FLDR_LAUSD_NEWS/FLDR_ANNOUNCEMENTS/06-14-07%20BREWER%20STATE%20OF%20SCHOOLS.DOC

Stay tuned for more featured "Reform Keywords" soon...

Honors and Advanced Placement Courses

If you are looking to get into a selective college, it is crucial to take honors courses. Preparation is everything and having a history of not only taking a challenging honors program in high school, but of also doing well in those courses gives colleges a sense of how well you might do at college.

Honors and Grade Weighting

One of the key ways that honors courses can help you strengthen your chances for admission to college is by boosting your GPA. Honors classes are often weighted. Even if your school doesn't weight honors courses, many colleges tabulate their own GPAs based on the rigor of your course schedule.

Honors versus APs

Regular honors courses can't earn you college credit or savings, however they still have benefits. They are more difficult and your willingness to challenge yourself by taking them will be viewed in a positive light by colleges. Your high school transcript should indicate whether a course was an honors course (it's usually part of the title), so colleges have an easy way to identify your honors work.

Honors courses can really pay off, not just by helping you strengthen your chances for admission to college, but also by helping you succeed in college. They help you prepare for college-level work, and the stronger your preparation, the greater your chances for success.

AP Courses

Advanced Placement Classes are a valuable tool for students and colleges alike. For students, they provide an opportunity to earn college credits early, and demonstrate a willingness to take on a challenge. For colleges, they show how a student will perform in a collegiate academic atmosphere.

Advantages of AP

The College Board, the same organization that administers the PSAT and SAT programs, administers the AP program. AP courses use a standard curriculum tied to a comprehensive final examination. More than 1,400 U.S. colleges grant up to a full year's credit to students who earn high scores on AP exams. Aside from earning college credit, taking AP courses can raise your GPA. Many schools offer weighted averages for AP classes.

Three Critical Meetings YOU Must Attend...

1. Saturday, July 14 from 9 – 11 a.m. (Roski Cafeteria, University Hall, LMU)

2. Wednesday, July 25 from 4 – 6 p.m. (Hilton 100, Hilton School of Business, LMU)

3. Saturday, August 11 from 9 – 11 a.m. (ECC 1862, University Hall, LMU)

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The meetings will take place on the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Campus:

1 LMU Drive; Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659

Note: Meetings 1 & 3 will be held in the University Hall Building. Meeting 2 will be held in the Hilton School of Business Building.

VIEW THE LMU MAP HERE: http://www.lmu.edu/AssetFactory.aspx?did=7234

WELCOME

Welcome to the Parents Of Westchester With Orville Wright blog!

This blog will become the catalyst toward current-parent inclusion of the changes being made within the Westchester School system.

There is so much to bring everyone up-to-speed on. Sit back -- no, get-up, get involved, become informed, let your voice be heard -- and let's tackle inclusion together.

This blog will serve as a notification of meeting dates, minutes from prior meetings, events and much, much more!

There are very important and serious issues that face our schools.

Although positive changes are underway, this past April, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) committee determined there are several areas that demand YOUR -- OUR attention.

WASC is one of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States.

The #1 concern that WASC listed in their summary for improvement was more parental involvement (from parents of current students).

WE DO NOT WANT WESTCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL TO LOSE THEIR ACCREDITATION.

Join POWWOW meetings and learn how YOU can help SAVE Westchester High!

Membership is free of charge, but not free of participation! Send email to ==> powwow4life@aol.com

SAT Preparation 10-Week Course

POWWOW has partnered with SAJ Tutoring to provide a 10-week comprehensive SAT prep course to students of POWWOW parents.

Stephen A. Johnson Tutoring desires the best possible outcomes for our students and commits to providing insightful instruction and offering individualized attention.

To contribute toward underwriting this program for our WHS students, to enroll your student, or to learn more about how you can partner with POWWOW and other community organizations, contact us at powwow4life@aol.com.

Meetings EVERY RESIDENT PARENT must attend. Learn what the future holds for you and your student.

Neighborhood Council Westchester/Playa del Rey Board of Director Meetings (NCWPDR) http://www.ncwpdr.org/

Education Committe Meetings held every 4th Tuesday of Each Month at 6.30pm.

Location: Community Room of the Westchester Municipal Building, 7166 Manchester Avenue, Westchester

Westchester/Playa del Rey Education Foundation (WPEF) http://www.wpef.org/index.htm

Community Meetings held every 1st Thursday of Each Month at 6.30pm.
Location: The Westchester Muncipal Building, 7166 Manchester Avenue, Westchester

Parents Of Westchester With Orville Wright

Friday, June 22, 2007

Reform Keyword: Autonomy

OUR SCHOOLS

Governance Committe Elections

March 28th 4-7pm: Community Collaboration & Celebration

April 26th @ 9am: 5k Walk-a-Thon

No Child: Now Playing at Kirk Douglas Theater

WHS 4x4 Schedule

Scholarships Now Available

Best Buy Scholarship: Deadline February 15, 2008

Presidential Candidate Scholarship: Deadline June 12, 2008

US PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN!

ROCK THE VOTE

Latest School News

WHS Small Learning Communities (SLCs)

OWMS API -- 708!

Bill Cosby's new book, Come On People

LMU

WESTCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL PARENT CENTER

Federal Student Aid

FIND OVER 1.3M SCHOLARSHIPS

GREAT RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS * PARENTS * EDUCATORS

COLLEGE BOARD LINKS

Largest College Resource on the Internet

College-Admission-Essay Services

Honors and Advanced Placement Courses

PARENT'S GUIDE TO K-12 SUCCESS

Greatschools.net

Brochure

Question...

If yes...

Three Critical Meetings YOU Must Attend...

LMU Map

WELCOME

POWWOW MEETINGS

Acronym Dictionary

SAT Preparation 10-Week Course

LAUSD Contacts

Meetings EVERY RESIDENT PARENT must attend. Learn what the future holds for you and your student.

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